The attack came as thousands of demonstrators gathered to demand that a multimillion-dollar power line pass through their electricity-starved province of Bamiyan, one of the most deprived areas of Afghanistan with a large Hazara population.
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Afghans help an injured man after an explosion struck a protest in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, July 23, 2016.
The attack in the majority Sunni country highlighted the risk of sectarian disharmony in a nation that has largely avoided the bloody strife between Sunnis and Shiites across much of the Muslim world.
“We want to make it clear Our Mujahideen had no hand in the attack”, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid wrote in an email.
ISIS has claimed responsibility for the suicide bombings that on Saturday left over 80 dead and over 200 injured in Kabul.
The claim by ISIS acknowleding responsibility behind the attack comes as the loyalists of the terror group have been attempting to expand foothold in the country but are mainly confined in the remote districts of eastern Nangarhar province.
“I promise you, I will take revenge against the culprits”, Ghani said in a televised address after the attack.
“The death toll has jumped to 64 and 265 others have been wounded”, health ministry spokesman Mohammad Ismail Kawoosi said, adding that the toll could rise further.
Images on social media showed horrific scenes with scores of people wounded in the square where the protesters had gathered.
“We remain committed to work jointly with the Afghan security forces and countries in the region to confront the forces that threaten Afghanistan’s security, stability, and prosperity”, the White House said in a statement.
Road blocks that had been set up overnight to prevent the marchers accessing the center of the city or the presidential palace hampered efforts to transfer some of the wounded to hospital, witnesses said. The belt of the second failed to explode and the third attacker was killed by security forces.
Two suicide bombers had attempted to target the demonstrators, who were gathering in Kabul’s Demazang Square as their four-hour protest march wound down, Haroon Chakhansuri said.
While it is not yet certain as to what caused the blasts, some reports confirm that they were carried out by suicide bombers.
Ghani released a statement condemning the blast.
On Saturday, Afghan President had said he was deeply saddened over the incident.
The commander of the NATO-led Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan joined hands echoing similar sentiments.
One of the organisers of the demonstration, Ahmad Behzad called on the worldwide community to find the principal authors of the attack.
The bombings also drew condemnation and offers of support from countries including Russian Federation and the United States.
Officials in Afghanistan’s main intelligence agency, the National Directorate for Security (NDS), said the attack was planned by an individual named Abu Ali, an IS militant.
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But for some, there was a sense of fury at both the government and Hazara political leaders who they said have exploited the grievances of their community to shore up their own power bases.
