IS suicide bomber strikes Kabul poll centre, 57 dead
CONCERNS ABOUT SECURITY Attack comes ahead of elections in October
KABUL: An Islamic State suicide bomber killed at least 57 people including women and children and wounded 119 outside a voter registration centre in the Afghan capital Kabul on Sunday in the latest attack on election preparations.
The attack underscores growing concerns about security in the lead-up to legislative elections scheduled for October 20, which are seen as a test-run for next year’s presidential poll.
The centre, in a heavily Shiapopulated neighbourhood in the west of the city. was also being used by people to register for national identification certificates, which they need in order to sign up to vote.
The Islamic State said that it was behind the carnage, according to the group’s Amaq news agency.
President Ashraf Ghani issued a statement condemning the attack and said it “cannot divert us from our aims or weaken this national democratic process”.
Also on Sunday, at least five people were killed when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb in the northern Baghlan province.
India has strongly condemned the attacks.
A statement issued by the external affairs ministry said: “India strongly condemns the cowardly and barbaric terrorist attack in Kabul and Baghlan today.
“What makes this attack particularly reprehensible is the fact that the terrorists and their backers chose to attack a voters’ registration centre for the upcoming parliamentary and district council elections. The attack has resulted in the death of Afghans who firmly support and believe in the democratic process to empower themselves and make their voice heard. This is not only an attack on innocent civilians but also an attack on the democratic rights of the Afghan people.”
Officials have acknowledged that security is a major concern because the Taliban and other militant groups control or contest large swathes of the country.
Afghan police and troops have been tasked with protecting polling centres, even as they struggle to get the upper hand against insurgents on the battlefield.
Over the next two months, authorities hope to register up to 14 million adults at more than 7,000 polling centres for the parliamentary and district council elections.
Officials have been pushing people to register amid fears a low turnout will undermine the credibility of the polls.