The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a suicide attack at a wedding in Kabul on Saturday that killed 63 people and left 182 wounded in the deadliest explosion in the Afghan capital this year.
The attack comes amid ongoing peace talks between the United States and the Taliban to try to bring an end to the nearly 18-year war in Afghanistan.
Women and children were among the victims of the bombing, and dozens of people were rushed to a nearby Kabul hospital operated by the Italian NGO Emergency.
ISIS said that a Pakistani fighter “seeking martyrdom” detonated his suicide vest at the wedding, which featured more than 1,200 attendees, according to the Associated Press.
The attack happened in a western Kabul neighborhood home to the country’s minority Shiite Hazara community, and the wedding itself had a mix of Sunni and Shiite adherents in attendance. ISIS declared war on Afghanistan’s Shiite community nearly two years ago.
The blast follows an Aug. 7 Taliban attack, when a suicide car bomber detonated himself on the same street as the site of Saturday’s explosion. Fourteen people were killed and 145 were left wounded after that attack, including many women and children.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack and accused the Taliban of playing some role in the blast because it “provides a platform for terrorists.” The group has denied any responsibility for the blast.
“My top priority for now is to reach out to the families of victims of this barbaric attack,” Ghani tweeted.
I strongly condemn the inhumane attack on the wedding hall in Kabul last night. My top priority for now is to reach out to the families of victims of this barbaric attack. On behalf of the nation I send my heartfelt condolences to the families of those who were martyred.
— Ashraf Ghani (@ashrafghani) August 18, 2019
Because of the attack, Ghani postponed a planned celebration in Kabul on Monday that would have marked 100 years of Afghan independence.
The U.S. and the Taliban are reportedly nearing a peace agreement that would end almost two decades of fighting in the country. President Trump has previously stated his intention to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan despite opposition from numerous lawmakers who say that the Taliban could make the county a haven for terrorists abroad.
The U.S. government wants assurances that the Taliban will not encourage jihadists from al Qaeda and ISIS to travel to the country to further their terrorist activities.
Special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad tweeted on Sunday that negotiations between the two sides need to be hastened, and he suggested that the Taliban hold talks with the Afghan government, as well. So far, the Taliban has largely refused to engage in discussions with the government because the group views it as a “U.S. puppet.”
We must accelerate the #AfghanPeaceProcess including intra-Afghan negotiations. Success here will put Afghans in a much stronger position to defeat ISIS.
— U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad (@US4AfghanPeace) August 18, 2019
