IS claims responsibility for deadly Kabul attack
KABUL/CAIRO:ISLAMIC State (IS) has claimed responsibility for an attack in Kabul that killed at least 27 people, the group’s Amaq news agency reported on Friday on its Telegram channel.
The group claimed it killed and injured 150 people, without providing evidence. The Afghan health ministry said at least 27 were killed and 55 injured.
It was the first major attack on the Afghan capital since the US reached an agreement with the Taliban to withdraw US troops.
Gunmen attacked a memorial ceremony for slain Shia leader Abdul Ali Mazari in Kabul in the biggest assault in recent days. Key political leaders including chief executive Abdullah Abdullah escaped the attack.
Before the IS claimed responsibility, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed denied any involvement in the assault, which followed a week of renewed violence from the militant group, who launched dozens of attacks on Afghan forces throughout the country. The US responded with an airstrike on the Talbian in Helmand province.
The fresh onslaught came just days after the two nations agreed on the pact that aims to wind down the war in Afghanistan after more than 18 years of fighting that turned into the longest conflict in American history.
The deal calls for US troop levels to fall to 8,600 within 135 days, from about 13,000 now, and for all American forces to withdraw in 14 months.
TALIBAN COULD SEIZE POWER: US PRESIDENT
WASHINGTON:US President Donald Trump said the Taliban could overrun the Afghan government after the US withdraws.
“Countries have to take care of themselves,” Trump said. “You can only hold someone’s hand for so long.” Asked if the Taliban could seize power, Trump said it’s “not supposed to happen that way but it possibly will”.