Afghanistan’s first vice-president has escaped unharmed from an explosion near the airport as he returned home after living in Turkey for more than a year.
By Rahim Faiez, Associated Press
July 22 2018 4:02 PM
Afghanistan’s first vice-president has escaped unharmed from an explosion near the airport as he returned home after living in Turkey for more than a year.
The interior ministry said a suicide bomber carried out the attack near Kabul International Airport shortly after the convoy of controversial vice-president Gen Abdul Rashid Dostum had left the area.
Fourteen people, including civilians and military personnel, were killed in the attack and another 50 were injured.
Mr Dostum is understood to have been the target of the attack, which was carried out by the Islamic State group.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani strongly condemned the attack in a statement released by the presidential palace.
Mr Dostum, a former Uzbek warlord, had been undergoing medical treatment in Turkey and is now well and ready to resume work, said presidential spokesman Haroon Chakhansuri.
He left Afghanistan in 2017 after the attorney-general’s office launched an investigation into allegations that his followers had tortured and sexually abused a former ally turned political rival. He has since reportedly been barred by the government from returning to Afghanistan.
It was not immediately clear whether Mr Dostum will now face any charges.
“The judiciary in Afghanistan is an independent body and will carry out its duties and responsibilities as it deems appropriate,” said an official.
Mr Dostum, accused of war crimes committed after the fall of the Taliban government in 2001, has also been criticised by the United States for human rights abuses.
Press Association
By Margaret Stafford, Associated Press A mother who lost nine relatives in a tourist boat accident in the US has recalled her sister-in-law’s last words.
Christopher Weber and Michael Balsamo Police in Los Angeles are trying to determine what prompted a man to shoot his grandmother and injure another woman before holding dozens of people hostage in a busy supermarket amid a tense…
By Rahim Faiez, Associated Press Afghanistan’s first vice-president has escaped unharmed from an explosion near the airport as he returned home after living in Turkey for more than a year.
Gardai have busted what they believe is the…
An experienced cave diver based in Co Clare…
Police in Los Angeles are trying to determine what…
The Israeli military has evacuated hundreds of rescue…
In this era of rapidly-improving technology, a lot…
Police are appealing for information after a…
The official mascots for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and…
A top US intelligence official has said he meant no…
Gunmen have opened fire on a minibus carrying members of a taxi drivers’…
The Israeli military has evacuated 800 defence volunteers and family members from a…
UK vacuum firm Gtech is scouting out a Japanese…
A mother who lost nine relatives in a tourist boat…
A woman was fatally wounded when a gunman being chased by police in Los…
Alesha MacPhail was staying with relatives on…
Israel has carried out airstrikes against…
Traffic had to be shut down on one side of…
German police say several people have been…
An unexpected flurry of tornadoes has swept…
The uplifting story of 45-year-old Dave…
Footage has been released of an indigenous…
A biker who filmed himself speeding at…
The new, provocative cover of Time…
Hundreds of protesters took to the streets as Donald Trump arrived in Britain. Here…
