Pakistan condemns terrorist attack at Kandahar mosque

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has strongly condemned the deadly terrorist attack at a mosque in Kandahar, resulting in the loss of at least 41 precious lives.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad conveyed support and heartfelt condolences from the government and the people of Pakistan to the people of Afghanistan.

He reiterated that Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including despicable attacks on places of worship, said Radio Pakistan.

Kandahar mosque attack

Meanwhile, the Islamic State (IS) group on Saturday claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack on a mosque in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar that killed at least 41 people and injured scores more, AFP reported.

The Friday assault came just a week after another IS-claimed attack on worshippers at a mosque in the northern city of Kunduz that killed more than 60 people.

In a statement released on its Telegram channels, the group said two Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) suicide bombers carried out separate attacks on different parts of the mosque in Kandahar – the spiritual heartland of the Taliban – while worshippers prayed inside.

Meanwhile, Moscow is preparing to host international talks on Afghanistan next week. The United States, China and Pakistan will join talks on the Taliban takeover on Tuesday, confirmed Kremlin’s envoy to Afghanistan on Friday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin fears that hundreds of fighters loyal to the IS were massing in northern Afghanistan.