Afghanistan Times
Related Articles
“Such cowardly act will not impede US efforts to achieve peace”
By Farhad Naibkhel
KABUL: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has strongly condemned Taliban’s attack on US forces, in which at least three US forces and a contractor were killed near Bagram base in northern Parwan province.
However, the US forces in Afghanistan have revised their death tool, say three US soldiers were killed in Monday’s attack and the Afghan contractor received injures.
“My heartfelt prayers to the families of the Americans killed near Bagram. I condemn this disgusting terrorist act. U.S. service members have sacrificed their lives in Afghanistan to keep us safe and no cowardly act of terror will impede our efforts to achieve peace,” Pompeo wrote in his tweet account.
A Taliban car bomber targeted U.S. forces convoy near Bagram airbase on Monday evening, killing three U.S. service members and a contractor.
Resolute Support Mission also confirmed casualties on part of US forces. “Three U.S. service members and one contractor were killed, and three U.S. service members were wounded by an improvised explosive device April 8 near Bagram Air Base,” Resolute Support said in a statement on Tuesday.
According to the statement the wounded service members were
evacuated and are receiving medical care.
In accordance with U.S. Department of Defense policy, the name of the service
members killed in action are being withheld until 24 hours after notification
of next of kin is complete, the statement added.
Parwan Police Spokesman Saleem Noori said foreign forces convoy was hit by an explosion in Pul Barekab area near Bagram base in Parwan province at around 5:40pm local time on Monday.
He said they the incident occurred while they were patrolling in the area.
However, Taliban Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has claimed responsibility for the attack via telegram message.
He said that it was a car bombing that targeted US troops near Bagram base, where imposed casualty to US troops.
The killing of US troops has come in the wake of ongoing peace talks where US Special Envoy for Afghanistan Reconciliation and Taliban negotiation members concluded their fifth round of talks in Qatar with progress at hand. Both sides termed discussion fruitful.
Another intra-Afghan talks with Taliban are going to be held soon in Qatar, after successfully conclusion of first round in Moscow.
Likewise, Diplomat and Ex-Ambassador of India to Afghanistan, Manpreet Vohra questioned the intention of Taliban over peace talks with US after the attack. He said that Taliban claimed responsibility while come across with US across the table to talk peace efforts.
“I wonder how one sits across the table the table discussing peace whit a group that is killing you at the same time. How is trust and confidence possible without a ceasefire and ending of terrorist attacks,” he asked, while tagging Zalamy Khalilzad’s twitter account.
