Herat mosque bombing sparks widespread condemnation

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Friday&s deadly bombing at a mosque in Afghanistan&s western Herat province has been condemned widely by individuals, governments and
organizations.At least 18 people including a prominent cleric, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman Ansari, were killed in the explosion at Gazargah mosque in
Herat city, where people gathered to offer congregational Friday prayers
23 others were wounded, according to officials.The United Nations mission in Afghanistan condemned the attack
&Continued attacks on Afghans going about their daily lives, including attending places of worship, must stop,& UNAMA said on Twitter.The
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also said it &vehemently& deplores the blast.&Though the security environment has admittedly
improved over recent months the OIC General Secretariat pointed out, it remains gravely concerned that sporadic attacks and explosions in
various provinces across the country continue to mar the security, social peace of Afghan people,& OIC said in a statement.The United
States, Pakistan and Iran also condemned the attack.&My heartfelt condolences to the families of the many victims who lost their lives or
were hurt in the Herat Guzargah Mosque explosion
We condemn this senseless act of terrorism
Perpetrators must be brought to justice,& US special envoy for Afghanistan, Thomas West, tweeted.&Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its
forms and manifestations
The people of Pakistan stand with their Afghan brothers and sisters in this time of sorrow and grief,& Pakistan&s foreign ministry said in a
statement.Iran&s foreign ministry said Tehran &will stand by Afghanistan and its oppressed people in the fight against the evil phenomenon
of extremism, violence, and terrorism.&Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the deputy prime minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA),
also condemned the attack and vowed that its perpetrators will be punished for their &heinous act.&The post Herat mosque bombing sparks
widespread condemnation first appeared on Ariana News.