At least 50 killed, 80 injured in Kabul Eid Miladun Nabi blast

Islamabad stands by Afghanistan in this hour of grief, says PM Imran

KABUL: A suicide bomber blew himself up in a banqueting hall where Islamic religious scholars had gathered in the Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday, killing more than 50 people, three government officials said.

#UPDATE At least 40 killed in suicide attack on Kabul religious gathering: officialshttps://t.co/Md3IWqLPeg pic.twitter.com/RVxOQIk3QU

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) November 20, 2018

Najib Danish, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said more than 80 other people had been injured.



“A suicide bomber detonated his explosives inside a wedding hall where Islamic religious scholars had gathered to commemorate the anniversary of the Prophet Mohammad’s (PBUH) birth,” Danish said.

Kabul bleeding again! Our hearts & prayers are with the victims & affected families of the condemnable, horrific & senseless terrorist attack on a gathering of Uelma celebrating Eid e Milad-u-Nabi an hour ago here in Kabul leaving many dozens innocent people dead & more wounded. pic.twitter.com/weQKsPRdm1

— Dr Omar Zakhilwal (@DrOmarZakhilwal) November 20, 2018

The attacker entered a banquet room in the Uranus wedding hall, a massive complex housing several large banqueting halls near Kabul airport, and detonated his explosives.

40 Killed, 80 Wounded in Kabul Wedding Hall Blasthttps://t.co/S3TQo1GAnH pic.twitter.com/jgZjo0oPjQ

— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) November 20, 2018

“Hundreds of Islamic scholars and their followers had gathered to recite verses from the Holy Quran to observe the Eid Miladun Nabi festival at the private banquet hall,” said Basir Mujahid, a spokesman for Kabul police.

Officials at Kabul’s Emergency Hospital said 30 ambulances had rushed to the blast site and over 40 people were critically wounded.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the blast.

PM Imran's statement

Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed his grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the Kabul attack.

The country's premier also strongly condemned the cowardly act of terrorism.

He added that being the biggest victims of terrorism, Pakistan can feel the pain of our Afghan brethren who continue to pay the price of war that was brought to our region.

PM Imran added that the people of the two countries have paid the heaviest toll, both in terms of human lives as well as material losses but we stand firm and unshaken.

Earlier in the day, the Foreign Office issued a statement strongly condemning the act of terrorism.

"Perpetrators are condemnable for this heinous attack by all religious and human standards.We condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," the statement read.

Moreover, Pakistan fully stand with and share the grief of the people of Afghanistan.