July 2016 Kabul bombing

July 2016 Kabul bombing
Part of the War in Afghanistan (2015–present)
Location	Dehmazang Square, Kabul, Afghanistan
Date	23 July 2016 c. 14:30 AFT[1] (UTC+04:30)
Target	Hazara civilians
Attack type	Suicide bombing[2]
Deaths	80+[2][3][4]
Non-fatal injuries	260[5]
Perpetrators	Islamic State
Motive	Anti-Shi'ism

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On 23 July 2016 a twin bombing^[6] occurred in the vicinity of Deh Mazang square in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, when the #Enlightenment_Movement protesters, mostly from the Hazara ethnic, were marching against a decision to bypass their region in the development of the TUTAP mega power project.^[3][7] At least 97 people were killed and 260 injured.^[2][3][4] The terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant has claimed responsibility, however, the same group later on refused it.

The attack was the deadliest in Kabul since 2001.^[8] Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, in a live television address, declared the following day (24 July) a day of national mourning and promised action against the culprits.^[1][3] In tribute to the victims, Ghani renamed the Dehmazang Square, where the attack took place, to the Enlightenment Martyrs' Square.^[9]

Background

The Hazaras are the third largest ethnic group of Afghanistan, mostly Shia, forming between 19-25% of the Afghan population, which is mostly Sunni.^[10] Hazaras have been subject to discrimination and genocides since the establishment of the current Afghan state by Emir Abdur Rahman Khan in 1919. The Hazara community has long been persecuted by the Taliban, who came to power in 1996, overall resulting in thousands killed.^[11]

The TUTAP (Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan) is a multimillion-dollar power project backed by the Asian Development Bank and World Bank^[12] to make electricity accessible to more people in Afghanistan.^[13] The project's initial assessment recommended the TUTAP route through the Bamyan Province,^[14] a Hazara populated province in the Central Highlands, but in 2016^[1] it was re-routed via Salang Pass.^[13]by government of Afghanistan.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) is a Syria-based terror group who have committed various attacks against civilians on the Eurasian continent. ISIL's Afghanistan branch is small, based in the country's east near the Pakistani border. In March 2016, Afghan president Ashraf Ghani claimed that the group was 'wiped out of Afghanistan', after the group failed to expand and pose a serious threat to the government.^[15]

The Hazara of Afghanistan protested the decision to re-route the TUTAP project. The civil activists of Kabul organised a march to protest on 6 May 2016, naming the movement جنبش روشنایی (literally "Enlightenment Movement"). Subsequent negotiations between the protesters and government officials were inconclusive. Therefore, a second peaceful demonstration was organised on 23 July 2016.

Thousands of people attended the demonstration on 23 July 2016. It started west of Kabul at around 07:00 and ended at Deh Mazang Square, where the government had placed containers and trucks to stop demonstrators from marching towards the presidential palace.^[16] Protesters were planning to make camp here at the end of the protest.^[1]

Before the march, the government had warned organizers of the possibility of an attack.^[1]

Bombings

At 14:30, two militants detonated explosive belts when protesters were returning home at the end of the demonstrations. Security agencies claim they had intelligence reports warning about movement of bombers.^[16] CNN reported, citing Afghan police, that a third attacker was killed before detonating his bomb, though only two attackers were described in the claim of responsibility.^[5]

Reactions

Supranational bodies

•  United Nations – Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Tadamichi Yamamoto, Special Representative of Secretary-General for Afghanistan and the head of the UN Assistance Mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA) condemned the terror attack on a peaceful demonstration in Kabul, describing the attack a “despicable crime”.^[17][18]
•  United Nations - President of the 70th session of the General Assembly Mogens Lykketoft also expressed shock at the killings and said that Afghanistan continued to struggle with the very grave consequences of the civil war and violent extremism.^[19]

Countries

•  Iran – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif condemned the attack and expressed condolences to the Afghan government and people.
•  Pakistan – Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack in Kabul and expressed deep grief over loss of human lives and reiterated solidarity with the government and people of Afghanistan.^[20]
•  India – President Pranab Mukherjee condemned the perpetrators of the incident and extended condolences to the families whose beloved lost their lives in twin blasts and prayed for recovery of people wounded.^[21]
•  Turkey – Foreign Ministry strongly condemned that terrorist attack and wished God’s mercy on those who lost their lives.^[22]
•  USA – White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest stated that United States “in the strongest terms” condemned the attack in Kabul, because it targeted people at a peaceful demonstration.^[23]

Domestic

• The Taliban, the predominant anti-government group in Afghanistan, denied any involvement in the attack^[24] and in a statement posted on their website termed the attack "a plot to ignite civil war".^[25][26] In a rare expression, the Taliban joined the Afghan government in condemning the attack.^[27]

Aftermath

United Nations special report on the attack

On 18 October 2016, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) issued a special human rights report "Attack on a Peaceful Demonstration in Kabul, 23 July 2016" following months of its investigation into the attack. In the report, the Mission concluded that the attack on the peaceful demonstration not only deliberately targeted civilians but also was a serious violation of international humanitarian law, which may amount to a war crime. The report reviewed the context of the demonstration, the planning and preparedness of Afghan Security Forces, their behaviour during the demonstration and immediate response to the attack and its aftermath. It also raised, where relevant, human rights concerns for authorities. The report also offered recommendations on the respect for fundamental human rights of all Afghans, including the rights of religious and ethnic communities, as well as the need for the completion and implement of a strategy to prevent violent extremism.^[28][29]

See also

• List of terrorist incidents in July 2016
• List of Islamist terrorist attacks
• List of terrorist incidents linked to ISIL
• 30 June 2016 Afghanistan bombings
• Kabul attack on Canadian Embassy Guards
• Kunduz-Takhar highway hostage crisis
• Persecution of Hazara people

References

1. "The Latest: 10-Day Ban on Public Gatherings in Afghanistan". ABC News. Associated Press. 23 July 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
2. Harooni, Mirwais (23 July 2016). "Islamic State claims responsibility for Kabul attack, 80 dead". Reuters. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
3. "Kabul explosion: Islamic State 'admits attack on Hazara protest' but protester believed Afghanistan government is behind this attack, they believe government want to shout down the people of Afghanistan". BBC. 23 July 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
4. "Kabul: At least 80 feared killed, more than 200 wounded in IS claimed bomb attack". The Indian Express. 23 July 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
5. Visser, Steve; Popalzai, Masoud (23 July 2016). "ISIS claims Afghanistan explosion that kills dozens". CNN. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
6. "More madness, more bloodshed in Afghanistan". Pakistan Today. 23 July 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
7. "داعش مسئولیت حمله به تظاهرات جنبش روشنایی را به عهده گرفت" [ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack to protests lighting movement] (in Persian). BBC Afghanistan. 23 July 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
8. Rasmussen, Sune Engel (23 July 2016). "Isis claims responsibility for Kabul fatal bomb attack on Hazara protesters". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
9. http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report-kabul-blasts-afghan-president-ashraf-ghani-renames-blast-site-martyrs-square-2237698
10. Sharifi, Karim (24 July 2016). "Afghanistan marks day of national mourning after huge attack". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
11. Ali, Saleem (16 January 2012). "Helping the Hazara of Afghanistan and Pakistan". National Geographic. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
12. "The TUTAP Interconnection Concept and CASA-1000". Center for Strategic and International Studies. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
13. Putz, Catherine (10 May 2016). "TUTAP Energy Project Sparks Political Infighting in Afghanistan". The Diplomat. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
14. "Technical Assistance Consultant's Report" (PDF). Asian Development Bank. May 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
15. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/03/isis-ashraf-ghani-defeated-eastern-afghanistan-160306093417163.html
16. "ISIL-claimed blasts kill dozens in Kabul Hazara protest". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
17. "Afghanistan: UN condemns 'despicable' terrorist attack that leaves scores dead in Kabul". UN News Center. July 23, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
18. PTI (July 24, 2016). "UN Chief condemns "despicable" Afghan attack". The Financial Express. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
19. "Statement on mass murders in Afghanistan and Germany". General Assembly of the United Nations. 23 July 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
20. APP (July 23, 2016). "PM strongly condemns Kabul blasts, expresses grief over loss of lives". Associated Press of Pakistan. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
21. ANI New Delhi (July 23, 2016). "80 killed in twin explosions during Kabul protest, IS claims responsibility". Business Standard. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
22. "Press Release Regarding the Terrorist Attack Perpetrated in Kabul". mfa.gov.tr. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
23. AP (July 23, 2016). "The Latest: 10-day ban on public gatherings in Afghanistan". Washington Times. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
24. AFP (July 23, 2016). "80 dead, 231 wounded as twin blasts strike Hazara demonstration in Kabul". Dawn News. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
25. Mirwais Harooni (July 24, 2016). "Islamic State claims responsibility for Kabul attack, 80 dead". Reuters. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
26. "80 killed in twin explosions during Kabul protest, IS claims responsibility". Hindustan Times. AFP Kabul. 23 July 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
27. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-07-24/deadly-kabul-attack-shatters-afghan-claim-of-victory-over-isis
28. "Afghanistan: July attack on peaceful demonstration in Kabul 'may amount to a war crime' – UN mission". UN News Service Section. UN News Centre. 18 October 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
29. "Special Report: Attack on a Peaceful Demonstration in Kabul, 23 July 2016" (PDF). UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. Retrieved 18 October 2016.