UAE mourns martyred ambassador Al Ka’abi
dubai — The UAE is mourning the death of the UAE’s ambassador to Afghanistan, Juma Mohammed Abdullah Al Ka’abi, who has succumbed to wounds he received in a January 10 bomb blast in Kandahar.
Five other Emirati diplomats were martyred and 18 people were wounded during the attack on the guesthouse of the provincial governor. The men were in Afghanistan on a humanitarian mission.
Among the first to offer his condolences was Abdul Farid Zikria, Afghanistan’s ambassador to the UAE, who noted that Al Ka’abi was “very dedicated to his work”.
“Al Ka’abi was a great friend of mine, I’ve known him for the past eight years, and today is a very sad day for us,” he said. “He was very instrumental in implementing a lot of projects in Afghanistan. He was energetic, and dedicated to maintaining the great relations between both nations.”
abu dhabi — UAE Ambassador to Afghanistan Juma Mohammed Abdullah Al Ka’abi has died of wounds sustained in a January 10 bomb blast in Kandahar, the Ministry of Presidential Affairs announced on Wednesday.
“It is with great sadness and sorrow that we mourn the martyr of the nation, Juma Mohammed Abdullah Al Ka’abi, who lost his life for the sake of humanity,” the ministry said in a statement.
Following the incident, Al Ka’abi was flown on a military aircraft to receive treatment.
Five other UAE diplomats were martyred during the attack, which targeted a guesthouse of provincial governor Homayun Azizi, who was wounded in the attack alongside 18 others. Among the first to express their condolences was Afghanistan’s ambassador to the UAE, Abdul Farid Zikria.
“Al Ka’abi was a great friend of mine. I’ve known him for the past eight years and today is a very sad day for us,” he said.
Working closely with Al Ka’abi, Zikria said the UAE envoy was “very dedicated to his work” and expressed enthusiasm about the last project he handled in Afghanistan.
“The day before he traveled to Kandahar, we spoke on the phone and he was very enthusiastic about the project he was undertaking.”
Zikria added: “He was very instrumental in implementing a lot of projects in Afghanistan. He was energetic, and dedicated to maintaining good relations between both the nations.”
Zikria confirmed the construction of a monument in Kandahar in the memory of
As Emirati people, we are proud of him and the others who laid their lives while attempting to help others.” Asma Al Jenahi, an Emirati woman
UAE martyrs who died while performing humanitarian duties in the country.
The other UAE martyrs were identified as Mohammed Ali Zainal Al Bastaki, Abdullah Mohammed Essa Obaid Al Kaabi, Ahmed Rashid Salim Ali Al Mazroui, Ahmed Abdul Rahman Ahmad Al Tunaiji, and Ahmed Hamid Sultan Abdullah Ibrahim Al Hammadi.
The men had been on a mission to carry out humanitarian, educational, and development projects in Afghanistan.
“As Emirati people, we are proud of him and the others who laid their lives while attempting to help others,” an Emirati woman Asma Al Jenahi said. “Despite the conflicts going on in today’s world, we will not stop doing good to others, and that’s the message Al Ka’abi and his fellow diplomats are sending to our future generation.”
Emirati Tariq Al Kazim said that Al Ka’abi’s death is a sign that “we should combat and fight terrorism as much as we can.”
“How many more families and friends will lose their loved ones this way, when all they wanted and worked for is a happy and peaceful life?,” he asked.
Another Emirati Ahmed bin Al Sheikh noted that the ambassador’s death “is a tragedy for all of us”.
“He died trying to save orphans from being homeless, and that’s the truest meaning of martyrdom,” he said.