Afghanistan calls off friendly matches with Pakistan post Kabul Blast

President Donald Trump has condemned the "barbaric" truck-bombing in Kabul in a phone call with his Afghan counterpart, as global outrage swells over the massive blast that ripped through the diplomatic quarter, killing at least 90 and injuring hundreds.

The victims appear mainly to have been Afghan civilians, but German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said that employees of the German Embassy were wounded in the attack and that one Afghan security guard was killed.


Nine Afghan security guards at the American embassy were among the dead.

The number of dead and wounded was provided by the Afghan government's media centre, citing a statement from the Afghan Ulema Council - the country's top religious body that includes Muslim clerics, scholars and men of authority in religion and law.

There are now 8,500 US troops in Afghanistan with a USA promise of more to come.

Today's contemptible act is a grim indication that Afghan civilians will continue to bear the brunt of Afghanistan's war.

Tolo News reported that the blast was close to the Embassies of Germany and Iran and added that the explosion happened o 14th Street of the Wazir Akbar Khan diplomatic area of the city.

Meanwhile, Pakistan also received another blow as the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) cancelled the upcoming cricket series, which was to be played by the two neighbours.

"I want to tell those regional countries and those who are harbouring and training terrorists for their political targets that the Afghan nation and the worldwide community is aware about their activities", Ghani said.

"Four BBC journalists were also injured and were treated in hospital".

Hugo Llorens, the USA ambassador to Afghanistan, said the "horrific and shameful attack demonstrates these terrorists' complete disregard for human life and their nihilistic opposition to the dream of a peaceful future for Afghanistan", the AP reported.

There tends to be an increase in Islamic terrorist attacks during Ramadan.

Afghan security forces swiftly cordoned off the area and worldwide troops arrived at the site to assist in rescue efforts. Germany has granted asylum to nearly 60 percent of Afghan applications, a rate that is significantly higher than in other European Union countries.

Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said the claims were baseless and held that stability in the neighbouring country was in the interest of Islamabad.

  • Leroy Wright