The attack occurred during the holy month of Ramadan. Civilians at a nearby market were among the nine people injured in the blast, some seriously. The incident sparked debates on the presence of foreign workers in conflict-countries, with many criticising the Canadian government for negligence. There have been debates on this subject before, especially after the Nisour Square massacre, a very different situation.[citation needed]
Background
On the same day, the Taliban carried out another bombing attack in Kabul, targeting a politician, resulting in the death of a person the wounding of five others, including the politician.[3] On the same date, a bombing in Badakhshan killed at least 10 people and injured 40.[4]
The bombing was another in a series of attacks on security guards and government workers conducted by the Taliban that occurred in the last couple of months before the attack. The attack also occurred during the Kunduz-Takhar highway hostage crisis.
On the same day around 1000hours another attack occurred. A U.S. Soldier from the 4th Infantry Division was shot while his team was ambushed when providing security to local contractors from New Kabul Compound at PEQ, a local motor depot being fortified for the security and safety of its personal.
Attack
The security guards were travelling on a mini bus that was on its way to the Canadian embassy. They were in the capital, Kabul, travelling through early-morning traffic when a suicide bomber who was inside a compound approached the minibus, which at that time was travelling through a market where several civilians were shopping. The bomber noticed the foreign vehicle and approached it on foot, after putting on a suicide belt. The suicide bomber then blew himself up with an unknown device at the minibus. The blast blew the windows out of the vehicle and left blood stains on the outside of the bus. The blast also injured many civilians who were at the market that the minibus was travelling through. Witnesses described seeing multiple people dead and injured. The injured were rescued from the mangled vehicle.[citation needed] Everyone actually located at the embassy were safe.
Victims
Twelve Nepalese and two Indian contractors were killed during the attack. Two days after the bombing the death toll rose to 15, after a wounded Nepalese national succumbed to his injuries. Nine other people were injured, of whom several Afghan civilians.[5][6]
Canada: Stéphane Dion, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that he "strongly condemns" the attack and said "On behalf of the Government of Canada, I offer my sincere condolences to the families and friends of the Nepalese and Indian security guards killed, and I wish a speedy recovery to those who have been injured". He also said "Many of the victims have been part of our embassy family for years, and they will be remembered for their service in the protection of the men and women at the Embassy of Canada to Afghanistan". The Canadian Embassy in Kabul also condemned the attack.[8]Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, said that "Today's attack on security workers in Kabul is appalling & cowardly. Our thoughts are with the victims as we stand with the Afghan people".[9]
Nepal: Nepalese government officials expressed anger over the attack, and many blamed Canada's "negligence" for the attack.[10] Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli condemned the attack and said that the Nepali government would fund the treatment of the wounded people in the attack.[11]
Aftermath
Claims of responsibility
After that attack occurred, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed that the attack was carried out by "the fighters of the Taliban" and that "over 20 people were killed or wounded in the attack". The spokesman said that the attack was retaliation for an execution a month before the attack of six Taliban prisoners. The Taliban named the bomber as "Irfanullah Ahmad". However, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant also claimed responsibility for the attack, naming the attacker as "Erfanullah Ahmed".[2][12]
Nepal's reaction
Nepal paid a compensation of $12,000 to members of the families of the dead. Many Nepalese politicians and government officials expressed deep anger over the attack, as the majority of the victims were Nepalese citizens. They criticised Canadian diplomats of negligence for "shuttling (Nepalese guards) back and forth in one of the most dangerous cities in the world in an unprotected minibus". Many Nepalese diplomats went to Canada's capital city, Ottawa, to discuss the attack. Meetings between diplomats included a meeting between Kali Prasad Pokhrel, the Nepal Ambassador to Canada, and Nadir Patel the Canadian High Commissioner to India.[13]
"We have conveyed Nepal's concern to the Government of Canada and sought information on under what circumstances those Nepalese security guards were attacked at a time they were ferried to and from their work at the Canadian diplomatic facilities. We also requested to ensure the safety and security of Nepalese still working with the Canadian Embassy."
Many people in Nepal, such as prominent lawmakers, expressed their viewpoint on the situation while questioning why westerners in Afghanistan are very heavily protected, but the people who guard them and are hired to guard them are not protected. Other members of the public criticised the ways that guards are transferred to and from buildings such as embassies. The incident sparked debate about how security guards should be moved. Many mentioned that it would be more reasonable to transfer guards around in armoured vehicles instead of other vehicles such as minibuses. The incident also sparked debate on the presence of Nepali migrant workers in "unsafe" destinations, such as Afghanistan. Members of the public asked foreign embassies, such as Canada's, to stop hiring Nepalese citizens and "putting them at risk".
"The Nepali guards were left unprotected. They used to be taken to work at the Canadian embassy without any security measures. It was a sheer negligence on the part of the Canadian government. Our citizens were killed in Kabul also because of the negligence on the part of the Canadian Embassy in Kabul."
Global Affairs Canada responded by saying that the contractors were hired from Sabre International, a private security firm.[10] Major Isabelle Bresse, a spokeswomen in the Canadian Forces, replied by saying that only a limited number of Canadian military personnel provide security at the Canadian embassy, and it will stay that way. For security reasons she did not mention much about the guards at the embassy. It was also mentioned that the foreign guards at the embassy get paid around $1,000 per month, or $40 a day, and many are the only wage earners for their families.[10]
After much debating within the country, the Nepali government asked the Canadian government to ensure the safety and security of Nepali nationals who are still working with Canadian diplomatic facilities in Afghanistan, which they called "war-torn". The Ambassador of Nepal to Canada expressed concern of the "unsecure" ways that Nepalese workers are transported to the embassy, such as in a minibus without any security escort. He then asked Canadian authorities if they could "conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and share the findings". He also asked the Canadian government to provide financial support to the injured and the members of the deceased's families, saying it is their "moral responsibility".[13]
Families of the deceased also expressed anger towards the Canadian government, as they said that they felt they had been left "high and dry". Their questions on the lack of security for the transportation of the victims across the city have not been answered. Anger was also expressed to the Canadian diplomats in Afghanistan, whose transports always contain a convoy with a large amount of security, unlike the foreign guards who are transported. Private security companies are known to hire workers from developing nations, and this has sparked much controversy. Many people also voiced that they believed that guards working at Canadian embassies should always have protection, as this is what they do at American embassies.[15] Distressed ex-foreign workers at the embassy mentioned a rule that they can only carry weapons when inside the Canadian embassy during duty hours, making them prone to attacks outside of the embassy, where they cannot defend themselves.[16]
Nepali workers in Afghanistan started to return home as disputes arose from the terror attack. So far, 40 people have returned, many on the same flight. They quit their jobs before flying home.[17] Sabre International assured employees that they would facilitate the return of Nepali's workers to their home country. The private security firm was also asked to provide compensation. The Prime Minister of Nepal, believing that this would downplay the government's initiative, instead claimed that he had his government bring home the dead and injured at its own expenses, without help from the private security firm. He claimed that Nepal's government would instead fund the treatment of those injured in the attack, and some are currently being treated in India and Afghanistan. The government then sent a Nepal Airlines flight to Afghanistan to pick up the dead, injured, and other workers and transport them back to Nepal.[11] The Prime Minister then pledged ₹1 million (which he claimed was not part of the insurance money that may later be received) to give to families of the dead.
After these Nepal contractors returned home, Nepal subsequently banned its citizens from migrating and working in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria, said by Nepal's Labour MinisterDeepak Bohara. The parliament ordered the prime minister to crack down on traffickers, who may send thousands of migrants per year to other nations experiencing major conflicts. These migrants can often be exploited.[18]
On 8 July 2016, a monument was constructed and a memorial was held for those killed in the attack. The monument was constructed at the Canadian Embassy in Kabul, and was unveiled by Canadian Ambassador Deborah Lyons, the Indian Ambassador Manpreet Vohra, and the Gurkha Force Commander. No representative from the Nepalese government was present at the memorial.[6] Two days after the memorial, Nepal, were many were still angry at the lack of an investigation, sent a team to investigate and assess the security of the green zones.[19]
Conspiracy theories
A Nepali contractor returned home after the attack. He claimed that the attack took place because the Taliban asked for money from Sabre International. He believed that the Taliban warned that they would eliminate the Nepali guards in case they failed to receive the money from the private security firm. He said that "they targeted us because the company refused to give money and took their warnings very lightly".[13]
The Taliban insurgency began after the group's fall from power during the 2001 War in Afghanistan. The Taliban forces fought against the Afghan government, led by President Hamid Karzai, and later by President Ashraf Ghani, and against a US-led coalition of forces that has included all members of NATO; the 2021 Taliban offensive resulted in the collapse of the government of Ashraf Ghani. The private sector in Pakistan extends financial aid to the Taliban, contributing to their financial sustenance.
The 2008 Kabul Serena Hotel attack was an attack on the gym of the Kabul Serena Hotel, in Kabul, Afghanistan on January 14, 2008, for which the Taliban claimed responsibility.
The 2008 Indian embassy bombing in Kabul was a suicide bomb terror attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan on 7 July 2008 at 8:30 AM local time. The bombing killed 58 people and wounded 141. The suicide car bombing took place near the gates of the embassy during morning hours when officials enter the embassy.
The 2009 Kabul Indian embassy bombing was a suicide bomb attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan on 8 October 2009 at 8:30 am local time. The bombing killed 17 people and wounded 83.
The February 2010 Kabul attack on 26 February 2010 was a combined suicide bombing and shooting attack. A car bomb levelled the Arya Guesthouse, also known as the Hamid Guesthouse, popular with Indian doctors. Two armed attackers then entered the nearby Park Residence, housing other foreigners. One detonated a suicide bomb, and the other was shot dead. The Safi Landmark Hotel nearby was badly damaged by the blasts. At least 18 people were killed and 36 more were injured.
The April 2012 Afghanistan attacks took place on Sunday, 15 April 2012, at around 13:00 local time when heavily armed Taliban insurgents and suicide bombers launched multiple coordinated attacks throughout Afghanistan. Insurgents launched the 2012 spring offensive on multiple locations, including government buildings, military bases, and embassies. Attacks occurred in four Afghan provinces, including Kabul and Paktia. Different reports attribute responsibility for the attacks to either Taliban or the Haqqani network although the Taliban have claimed responsibility.
A suicide bomb attack took place on the Supreme Court of Afghanistan in Kabul on 11 June 2013. At least 16 people died and 40 others were injured.
The following lists events that happened during 2016 in Afghanistan.
On the morning of 19 April 2016, Taliban militants attacked a security team responsible for protecting government VIPs in Kabul, Afghanistan. The initial attack killed 64 people and wounded 347. It was their biggest attack on an urban area since 2001.
On June 30, 2016, at least 40 people were killed and 50 people were wounded after two Taliban suicide bombers attacked police cadets returning from a graduation ceremony west of the capital city, Kabul. The attacks followed the Kabul attack on Canadian Embassy Guards and occurred during the Kunduz-Takhar highway hostage crisis. The attacks all occurred during the holy month of Ramadan.
Events in the year 2017 in Afghanistan.
On 31 May 2017, a truck bomb exploded in a crowded intersection in Kabul, Afghanistan, near the German embassy at about 08:25 local time during rush hour, killing over 150 and injuring 413, mostly civilians, and damaging several buildings in the embassy. The attack was the deadliest terror attack to take place in Kabul. The diplomatic quarter—in which the attack took place—is one of the most heavily fortified areas in the city, with three-meter-high (10 ft) blast walls, and access requires passing through several checkpoints. The explosion created a crater about 4.5 meters (15 ft) wide and 30 feet deep. Afghanistan's intelligence agency NDS claimed that the blast was planned by the Haqqani Network. Although no group has claimed responsibility, the Afghan Taliban are also a suspect but they have denied involvement and condemned the attack. It was the single largest attack on the city up till that point.
On 1 July 2019, a combined gun and bomb attack took place in the Wazir Akbar Khan neighborhood of Kabul, Afghanistan. The attackers initially detonated a bomb-laden truck, after which five gunmen entered a nearby building under construction and fired on Afghan security personnel evacuating people onto the street. At least forty-five were killed, including the five attackers. The spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Public Health, Wahidullah Mayar, said that 116 civilians, including 26 children and 5 women, were wounded. The Taliban claimed the responsibility for the bomb attack in Kabul and said although civilians were not the Taliban target, some were injured.
In May 2020, a series of insurgent attacks took place in Afghanistan, starting when the Taliban killed 20 Afghan soldiers and wounded 29 others in Zari, Balkh and Grishk, Helmand on 1 and 3 May, respectively. On 12 May, a hospital's maternity ward in Kabul and a funeral in Kuz Kunar (Khewa), Nangarhar were attacked, resulting in the deaths of 56 people and injuries of 148 others, including newborn babies, mothers, nurses, and mourners. ISIL–KP claimed responsibility for the funeral bombing, but no insurgent group claimed responsibility for the hospital shooting.
On 8 May 2021, a car bombing, followed by two more improvised explosive device (IED) blasts, occurred in front of Sayed al-Shuhada school in Dashte Barchi, a predominantly Shia Hazara area in western Kabul, Afghanistan, leaving at least 90 people dead and 240 injured. The majority of the casualties were girls between 11 and 15 years old. The attack took place in a neighborhood that has frequently been attacked by militants belonging to the regional Islamic State – Khorasan Province (IS-K) over the years.
Afghanistan–Nepal relations refers to the diplomatic relations between Afghanistan and Nepal. Nepal has relations with the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan through its Embassy in New Delhi. The two countries have had long bilateral relations and both are members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
On 21 April 2022, a powerful bomb rocked the Shia Seh Dokan mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh Province, Afghanistan killing at least 31 people and injuring more than 87 others. The Islamic State – Khorasan Province claimed responsibility via Telegram.
On 12 December 2022, insurgents attacked a hotel popular with foreigners in Kabul, Afghanistan. At least 3 civilians were killed. 18 others, including foreigners, are reported to be among those injured. Islamic State – Khorasan Province claimed responsibility for the attack.
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