PARIS — The Taliban has joined global leaders in condemning twin
suicide bombs that ripped through crowds waiting to be evacuated outside Kabul airport,
killing at least 85 people, including 13 US troops.
اضافة اعلان
Here is a round-up of the reaction to Thursday's attack on a mammoth airlift
operation put in place after the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan.
United States
President Joe Biden vowed to hunt down those behind the suicide bombings
that killed 13 American troops in the worst single-day loss for the Pentagon in
Afghanistan since 2011.
"We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and
make you pay," Biden, visibly shaken, said in a White House address during
which he said evacuations of vulnerable people would continue until August 31.
"Knowing the threat, knowing that we may very well have another attack,
the military has concluded that that's what we should do. I think they are
right."
Taliban
The Taliban slammed the blasts, but pointed out they happened in an area
that was under the control of US military.
"The Islamic Emirate strongly condemns the bombing targeting civilians
at Kabul airport," the group's spokesman tweeted.
"The explosion took place in an area where US forces are responsible
for security."
Russia
Russia also blasted the attacks "in the strongest possible terms".
"Unfortunately, the pessimistic forecasts that entrenched terrorist
groups, especially ISIS (Daesh), will not fail to take advantage of the chaos
in Afghanistan, are being confirmed," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov
said.
China
China said it was "shocked" by the explosions.
They show "the security situation in Afghanistan is still complex and
severe", foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said.
Europe
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned "barbaric" attack,
paying tribute to the "phenomenal effort" of those involved in the
evacuation operation.
He said that Britain would "keep going up until the last moment".
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed "his condolences to the
families of the American and Afghan victims".
For Poland's President Andrzej Duda, the bombings were an "act of
cowardice," while Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi condemned "this
vile and horrible attack against defenseless people seeking liberty."
Sweden meanwhile paid tribute to the US service members: "We are
grateful for all your efforts in making this historic evacuation operation
possible."
Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged to work with partners to resettle
refugees in his country.
"Our hearts break for the people of Afghanistan and the loved ones of
the victims, including the brave women and men of our allies," he said.
WHO
The World Health Organization said its partner, the Italian NGO Emergency,
operates a hospital in Kabul and is "overwhelmed" following the
blasts, adding "they've got great pressure on their supplies."
OIC
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned the "twin
heinous terrorist bombings".
Secretary General Yousef Al-Othaimeen in a statement "reaffirmed the
OIC's firm, principled position against terrorism in all its forms and
manifestations."
Middle East
Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry rejected the attacks as "incompatible
with all religious principles and moral and human values."
Turkey's foreign ministry deplored "this heinous attack in the
strongest terms," while Egypt decried the "gruesome
terrorism".
Iran, meanwhile, condemned "the targeting of Afghanistan's defenseless
people and any terrorist operation in which women, men, youth, and children are
attacked."
Foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh "hoped that with the
establishment of an inclusive government in Kabul, organizations and related institutions
take charge of their duties in protecting the lives and properties of the
people."
South America
Brazil urged all involved "to guarantee the protection of civilians,
the respect of international humanitarian law, including the unimpeded access
to humanitarian aid, and the respect of human rights, especially those of women
and girls."
Chile meanwhile called for "those who wish to leave the country"
to be able to do so safely.
Africa
African Union Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat tweeted:
"The
@AfricanUnion joins the world in prayer & deep sorrow for
the innocent lives lost in yesterday's horrific terrorist attacks at
#Kabul airport, that we condemn in the strongest terms. Terrorism threatens our common
humanity everywhere."
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