Kabul, Afghanistan – Recent blasts in west Kabul have drawn backlashes at local and international level, condemning the bombings that targeted boys’ school in Shia Hazara neighborhood of Afghan capital.
On Tuesday, at least six people, including young students, have been killed and 11 further wounded after three blasts hit a boy’s school in Dasht-e-Barchi area of Police District 13.
Neil Turner, Norwegian Refugee Council’s Country Director in Afghanistan, said on an emailed statement to Khaama Press that Afghanistan has been one of the most challenging countries for children to receive education, condemning the targeted bombing of boys school.
“Afghanistan has been one of the deadliest and most challenging countries for children to receive an education for way too long,” he said on the statement. “We strongly condemn this morning’s horrifying attack on Abdul Rahim Shahid boy’s high school in western Kabul.”
Highlighting the current situation and “ever-increasing restrictions” in the country, Turner said the status quo has deprived thousands of students of their basic rights, including the rights to education, calling for “full access” to education for all student in Afghanistan.
“Insecurity, direct attacks, poverty, and the recent suspension of girls’ return to secondary school have robbed thousands of students of their basic rights to learning over the past decades,” he said.
“We call for full access to education for all students in Afghanistan – girls and boys alike,” Turner wrote on the statement. “Children need to be provided with a safe environment and protected from facing deadly threats while pursuing their dreams of a better future.”
Meanwhile, the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, passed his “deepest condolences to the families of the victims, saying such attacks are “strictly prohibited under the international humanitarian law.”
“Attacks against civilians & civilian infrastructure, including schools, are strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law,” he wrote in a tweet.
The US Department of State in a statement expressed “outrage” over the “heinous attacks”, saying Afghan children deserve to study in a safe environment.
“We offer sincere condolences to the families and other loved ones of those killed in these cowardly acts,” the statement said. “All Afghan children deserve to pursue their studies safely and without fear of violence.”
The UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell in a statement said she was “horrified by the brutal attacks” targeting school children in western Kabul, appealing Afghan children protection.
“UNICEF condemns this attack and appeals in the strongest terms to all parties to protect children at all times,” the statement said as TOLOnews wrote.
The US Special Envoy for Afghanistan Thomas West condemned the “horrific and cowardly attacks on students in Kabul today,” exclaiming safety should be no concern while in an educational center.
“No one should have to worry about their safety while being educated,” he tweeted. “My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims.”
Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate says investigation is underway, expressing commitment to bringing perpetrators of the attacks to justice.
Inamullah Samangani, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, said that the Islamic Emirate is committed to punishing the perpetrators and preventing the repeat of such attacks in the future, according to local media report.
The Controversy of Afghanistan Security
Since the takeover in August 15, 2021, the so-called Islamic Emirate government has repeatedly assured citizens of a non-violent and secured country, but the international officials and analyst say the security threats, including target killings, remain the same.
While the Taliban leadership claim that Afghanistan is now free and independent, risk of rebellion proves otherwise – where many attacks in the past several months have been claimed by the ISIL (also known as Daesh).
In May 2021, at least 85 people, mainly female students, were killed and roughly 300 others were wounded when three consecutive bombs rocked Dasht-e-Barchi of west Kabul.
Dasht-e-Barchi in west Kabul – a Shia Hazara neighborhood – has frequently been the targets, where majority of the attack were claimed by the ISIL.
