Suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan kills 12 Nepalis

A suicide attack on a minibus in Kabul has killed at least 14 people and injured several more. The victims were Nepali nationals on their way to the Canadian embassy where they worked as security guards. The government has confirmed that 12 of the victims were Nepalis. At a press meet organised today, the Foreign Ministry has stated that identities of 12 victims were confirmed while it was yet to be ascertained if the other two were also Nepali nationals. The deceased include Madhusudhan Koirala of Nuwakot, Chandra Bahadur Rana Magar of Kathmandu, Amrit Bahadur Thapa of Lamjung, Damber Bahadur Tamang of Nuwakot, Krishna Bahadur Dhungana of Chitwan and Sup Bahadur Gurung of Syangja. Similarly, Jitendra Singh Thapa of Rupandehi, Bir Bahadur Subedi Kshetri of Kathmandu, Lil Bahadur Gurung of Nuwakot, Nabin Singh Kshetri of Parbat, Akul Tamang of Sunsari and Hari Bahadur Baduwal Kshetri of Kathmandu have also been identified as deceased. Others injured in the attack are Prem Bahadur Kshetri of Morang, Chet Prasad Sherchan of Myagdi, Kumar Bahadur Gurung of Gorkha, Man Bahadur Thapa of Chitwan, Krishna Bahadur Deuja of Chitwan, Amrit Rokaya Kshetri of Surkhet and Chyangba Tamang of Nuwakot. Speaking on the incident in the Legislature Parliament, Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa dubbed the attack a crime against humanity. He informed that the Nepali ambassador in Pakistan had been directed to head to Kabul to make arrangements to bring the bodies to Nepal and carry out treatment of the injured. The government has expressed condolence to the families of the departed souls.The Taliban said it carried out the Kabul bombing, the first such attack since the start of the holy month of Ramadan. The guards were employed by a private security company. The Taliban have been waging an insurgency against the government since 2001.