Within hours of the announcement of the martyrdom of the UAE officials, government officials and organisations from around the world condemned the attack on the humanitarian mission.

GCC Secretary General Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayan, for example, said “all the GCC countries show full support to the UAE and Afghanistan against this heinous crime which happened while the UAE ambassador was in an official humanitarian mission as part of the programme of the UAE to support the brotherly Afghan people.”

Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, noted that “the Arab League firmly stands with the UAE against these cowardly terrorist acts”, while Mahmoud Afifi, the Spokesman of the Secretary-General of the Arab League, described the attacks as “a heinous crime.”

In a statement, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said “enemies of the Afghan people targeted Kandahar governor, the United Arab Emirates ambassador to Afghanistan, and our citizens in a terrorist attack.”

He added that Afghanistan’s enemies “cannot weaken the strong will of our people to rebuild Afghanistan by carrying out such terrorist acts.”

In the United States, a statement was issued by Ned Price, Special Assistant to the President, Spokesperson and Senior Director of National Security Council at the White House, condemning the attack, as well as other terrorist attacks in Afghanistan which killed 38 people and wounded 70 in Kabul, and at least seven in southern Helmand province.

“We commend the Afghan police and other security forces who bravely responded to these attacks, and fully support Afghan efforts to bring those responsible to justice. The United States stands with the people and Government of Afghanistan as we work together to build a more secure, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan,” the statement concluded.

The United Nations, for its part, extended “its deepest condolences” to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured, as well as expressed its solidarity with the people of the UAE and Afghanistan. The UN also called for those responsible to be brought to justice.

“Indiscriminate attacks against civilians, including diplomatic envoys, are violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and cannot be justified,” the UN statement added.

Statements of condemnation and solidarity also came from Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, and France, and India, among others.

Source: khaleejtimes.com