‘Sufis always preach peace’: Afghan president condemns IS attack in Sehwan

Says militant groups always seek to target civilians in Afghanistan and other parts of the world

Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani has condemned the horrific attack on Lal Shahbaz Qalandar's shrine in Sehwan, which claimed at least 80 lives on Thursday.

In a statement issued on Friday, Ghani said Afghan security forces were fighting all terrorist groups, including Islamic State (Daesh), which claimed responsibility for the attack.

He said militant groups always seek to "target civilians in Afghanistan and other parts of the world."



"Sufis always preach peace and brotherhood among people," he said, while adding that "terrorists once again proved that they have no respect for Islamic values."

Pakistan has been insisting that terror activities in the country were being launched by militant groups that have found safe havens in neighbouring Afghanistan.

Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has also asked Kabul to hand over 76 terrorists hiding in its territory, according to a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

ISPR Director General Major-General Asif Ghafoor said Afghan Embassy officials were called to General Headquarters where they were given a list of the 76 terrorists.



Meanwhile, security forces also launched a nationwide crackdown on Friday.

“Federal and provincial law enforcement authorities and the police started a pre-dawn crackdown across the country, and scores of suspects have been arrested from different cities,” a government official told AFP on condition of anonymity, while adding that the operation would continue in the coming days.