At least 11 people were killed and 18 wounded when a motorcycle bomb blast hit an election campaign rally in northern Takhar province on Saturday, local officials said.
The explosion targeted candidate Nazifa Yousufi Beg’s rally in Rustaq district of the province, the Provincial Police Chief Nizamuddin Ghori
The official added that the candidate sustained no harms, following the incident.
Following the incident, the U.S. Ambassador in Kabul, John Bass “strongly” condemned the attack, saying if the Taliban is “serious” about pursuing peace, it should condemn the attack and punish those who are responsible.
“I strongly condemn outrageous bombing of Takhar election rally. Taliban said they would not target civilians. Afghanistan elections & campaigns are inherently civilian. If Taliban is serious about pursuing peace, it will condemn today’s attack and punish those responsible,” Bass tweeted.
No individual or group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. But the Taliban is among the suspects as the militant group has recently vowed to target the upcoming parliamentary elections in the country and asked the people to boycott the process.
This is not the first time that candidates have been targeted during their election campaign process. Days ago, a blast hit the campaign office of a parliamentary candidate in southern Helmand province which left eight people killed.
Source Ariana news
