Afghan Gen Blames Pak’s ISI & Haqqani Network for Kandahar Attack

Five Emirati humanitarian workers were killed in the attack and 18 others were wounded.

Afghan security forces are seen in front of Kandahar guesthouse after a bomb blast in Kandahar, Afghanistan. (Photo: AP)

The chief of police of Kandahar province General Abdul Raziq claimed that the notorious Haqqni network backed by Pakistan's Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) were behind the bomb attack in the Afghan city of Kandahar, on Tuesday, that killed five Emirati humanitarian workers, local Afghan media Khaama Press reported.

The five were killed on Tuesday while engaged in humanitarian, educational and development work, in the governor’s compound, state news agency WAM reported, adding President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan had ordered flags flown at half mast for three days in mourning.

Afghan officials said the explosion killed at least seven people and wounded 18 others, including the UAE ambassador to Afghanistan. The Taliban militant group denied having to do anything with the attack and instead accused the Afghan officials of plotting against them.

President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has called for a thorough investigation to be conducted on the incident.

In a separate incident, the Afghan Taliban claimed responsibility for twin blasts near parliament offices in Kabul on Tuesday, which they said had killed or wounded scores of people.

They attack targeted a minibus carrying staff from the NDS, Afghanistan's main intelligence agency, killing at least 23 and injuring as many as 40 people.

(With inputs from Reuters and Khaama Press)