Nepal has reacted with grief and shock to a bomb attack in the Afghan capital Kabul yesterday in which a suicide bomber blew up a mini bus killing 14 Nepali citizens.
Nepal’s Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli condemned the attack on Nepali people and expressed grief over the loss of lives.
Five others were also injured in the attack.
“I am shocked to hear that 14 Nepalis were killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan. I express my heartfelt condolences to their kin,” Oli said in a statement.
The Nepal government strongly deplores the heinous crime in Kabul, the Nepali premier said, adding: “I wish the early recovery of those who were injured in the incident.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa also condemned the attack.
The ministry of foreign affairs said it was seeking details about the victims and those injured.
Nepal has no embassy in Afghanistan. Its mission in Islamabad is concurrently responsible for the country’s Afghan affairs.
The attack was carried out at around 5.40am by a suicide bomber who approached the bus which was carrying the victims.
Sediq Sediqi of the Afghan Interior Ministry said primary reports revealed that the Nepali nationals worked for Canada’s embassy in Kabul.
Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Nepal’s foreign ministry said it was working to repatriate the bodies of the victims, who were employed by the private security company Sabre International.
Authorities said around 3,300 Nepalis were currently working in Afghanistan as security guards.
A number of them are former soldiers with the Gurkha brigades of the Indian and British armies.
Four Nepali guards were killed in a 2011 attack on a UN compound in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif in 2011.