Aid workers' massacre in Afghanistan draws wide condemnation

Kabul, June 3: The massacre of nine aid workers in Afghanistan's northern Balkh province on Tuesday has drawn wide condemnation at home and abroad.

Unidentified armed men, apparently Taliban militants, attacked an office of an aid agency in Zari district of Balkh province Tuesday morning, killing nine people, including a women. All the victims were Afghans.

Condemning the deadly incident in the strongest terms, Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani blamed the enemies of peace, progress and development in Afghanistan, Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday.

"The president strongly condemned the terrorist attack against the office of aid workers which left nine employees of the office, including a woman, dead," a statement released by Presidential Palace on Tuesday night said.

Similarly, the UN expressed its outrage at the attack against the aid workers and murder of nine civilians working with the People in Need (PIN), an aid organisation financed by the Czech Republic.

"Once again, I am appalled to be speaking out following the killing of aid workers who are providing much needed assistance in Afghanistan," Mark Bowden, the UN humanitarian coordinator in the country, said in a statement.

The headquarters of NATO-led Resolute Support (RS) has also strongly condemned the militant attack.

"This attack is another example of how militants are targeting and killing innocent men, women and children in their aimless campaign that continues to hurt innocent civilians," a statement of RS released here said.

"Those killed were dedicated to the well-being of their fellow Afghans, working with a respected international organization to build schools, hospitals and water projects," said Brig. Gen. Wilson Shoffner, RS deputy chief of staff for communications, in the statement.

IANS