Afghanistan: At least nine people were killed in an explosion in the governor’s compound in Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province Tuesday during a visit by the UAE ambassador, Afghan officials reported.
The UAE foreign ministry said envoy Juma Mohammed Abdullah Al Kaabi and other UAE diplomats were wounded in the “terrorist attack.” WAm News agency said the blast left nine people dead and 16 others wounded.
“[The ministry] is following the heinous terrorist attack on the guesthouse of the Kandahar governor which resulted in the injury of his Excellency Juma Mohammed Abdullah al-Kaabi, UAE Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and a number of Emirati diplomats,” the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The UAE Ambassador’s visit to Kandahar was on humanitarian mission within the programme of the UAE to support the brotherly Afghan people, lay the foundation stone for Dar Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as well as sign an agreement with Kardan University to offer scholarships at the expense of the UAE,” the Ministry said in a statement.
Kandahar’s governor was also wounded by flames from the explosion, but many others were burned beyond recognition, provincial police chief Abdul Raziq said.
The explosion came on the same day that at least 38 people were killed and 72 others injured in twin bomb attacks in a crowded area near Afghanistan’s parliament in the capital city of Kabul.
