Bahrain condemns terrorist attack in Afghanistan

Bahrain yesterday strongly condemned the “terrorist bombing” in Afghanistan that killed at least 10 people including two NATO troops. The car bomb blast shook Shash Darak, a heavily fortified area adjacent to the Green Zone and home to several important complexes including the National Directorate of Security (NDS), the Afghan intelligence service.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed Bahrain’s solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and support for its efforts to combat violence and terrorism. The ministry, in a statement, expressed deepest condolences to the families and relatives of the victims and wished rapid recovery to survivors.

Apparent surveillance footage of the attack, which occurred at about 10:10 am (0540 GMT), showed a grey minivan explode just after it had cut in front of a line of white SUVs waiting to make a right turn onto a street. One nearby pedestrian can be seen turning and trying to run away as the minivan crashed through a barrier just before the blast. Resolute Support, the US-led NATO mission in Afghanistan, said a Romanian and an American service member had been killed in the explosion.

Romania’s defence ministry said the Romanian soldier had been conducting a joint patrol near the Green Zone. The American death brings to at least 16 the number of US military killed in action in Afghanistan this year, just as Washington is seeking a way out of its longest war. According to interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi, at least 10 people were killed and 42 more wounded. On Twitter, Taliban spokesman Zabihulla h Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack, saying a “martyrdom seeker” -- or suicide bomber -- had triggered the car bomb and that 12 “foreign invaders” were killed.

Massoud Zazai, who owns a photo studio across the street from the blast site, said he was in his shop when the explosion happened. “I fell off my chair and it got dark inside the shop because of smoke and dust,” Zazai said. The attack was close to where the Islamic State group killed nine journalists in a blast in April last year, including AFP Kabul’s chief photographer Shah Marai.