The Taliban have published a statement in response to the twin bombings at Kabul airport that killed at least 40 people, claiming that the US had been informed of a possible terror assault by the Islamic State (IS).
The blasts outside Kabul airport were described by the Taliban as a “terrorist act.”
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the group has informed the US of a prospective ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) terror strike (ISIS).
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated, “The Taliban are dedicated to the international community and will not allow terrorists to use Afghanistan as a base for their operations.”
Suhail Shaheen, a Taliban spokesman, said, “We strongly condemn this heinous incident and will take all necessary steps to bring the perpetrators to justice.”
On Thursday, two back-to-back bombings near Kabul airport killed at least 20 people and injured over 120 more. Thousands of Afghans have flocked to the Hamid Karzai International Airport, packing all entrances in a desperate attempt to flee the Taliban’s cruel reign.
Following a terror attack alert issued by multiple countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, the explosions occurred.
The US Embassy in Kabul issued an advisory following the blasts, advising Americans to “avoid travelling to the airport and avoid airport gates.” The French embassy, too, issued an urgent warning to its residents to evacuate the area.
ISIS role is suspected in attack
The intricate attack near Kabul airport, according to a US official, was “certainly believed” to have been carried out by the Islamic State group.
According to the official, members of the US military were injured in the attack on Thursday, which included two suicide bombers and gunmen.
To describe ongoing operations, the official spoke on the condition of anonymity. The Islamic State is a more extremist organisation than the Taliban, and it has launched a wave of atrocities on civilians.
One explosion occurred near the Kabul airport’s gate, while the other occurred near a hotel a short distance away, according to Pentagon spokesman John Kirby.
One bomb went off in a gathering of people waiting to enter the airport, according to an Afghan waiting nearby. Several persons appeared to have been murdered or injured, with others losing body parts, he said.
