Bodies of 12 Nepalese killed in Kabul-terror attack flown back

Kathmandu, Jun 22: The bodies of 12 Nepalese guards who were killed in a Taliban suicide attack in Afghanistan were today flown back to Nepal in a special chartered flight.

The Nepal Airlines chartered flight that landed at Tribhuvan International Airport also brought back 24 Nepalese guards who worked with the ones killed in Afghanistan, officials at Foreign Ministry said.

A Taliban suicide bomber killed 12 Nepalese security guards on June 20 in a blast targeting their Kabul minibus. Nine other people were wounded, including five Nepalese and four Afghans.

The Nepalese worked for private security company Sabre International to guard the Canadian embassy. Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa received the bodies at the airport.

The bodies have been handed over to the family members and relatives of the victims. Nepal sent a chartered flight as otherwise the bodies had to be brought from Kabul International Airport via three connecting flights.

Five other Nepalese who were injured in the attack have been airlifted to Delhi for further treatment, the officials said.

Meanwhile, the Parliamentary committee on Labour and International Affairs has directed the government to provide compensation to family members of those killed in the terror attack in Kabul.

PTI