KABUL, Afghanistan – A suicide bomber killed 14 Nepali and Indian security guards in the Afghan capital on Monday, in one of the deadliest attacks on foreign contractors since the war here began nearly 15 years ago.
The attack occurred as two buses transporting the guards – all assigned to security details at the Canadian Embassy – pulled out of a housing compound in the eastern part of Kabul. A suicide bomber approached on foot and blew himself up next to one of the buses.
The attack also wounded nine people, according to the Afghan Interior Ministry.
In a statement, the Taliban insurgency asserted responsibility for the attack, saying it was aimed at “forces of aggression.” But the Islamic State militant group also issued a statement claiming responsibility, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors militant activity.
In a statement posted to Twitter, the Canadian Embassy decried the “cowardly attack.” Afghan officials initially said that all the guards killed were from Nepal, but a later statement from the embassy noted “Nepalese and Indian security guards killed.” No further details were provided.
The attack shattered two months of relative calm in Kabul, but a spate of similar bombings has occurred across Afghanistan since a U.S. drone strike killed Taliban leader Akhtar Mohammad Mansour.
The guards provided security for Western embassies and firms in Kabul, Afghan officials said.
Kamal Thapa, Nepal’s foreign minister, condemned what he called “a heinous crime against innocent people.”
Many contractors who work for Western or large Afghan organizations live in camps on the outskirts of Kabul and are shuttled to work downtown in buses.
Because of a lack of parking and public transportation downtown, Afghan government workers also rely on shuttle buses.
Over the years, the Taliban has stepped up attacks on those buses, many of which have no armed protection.
A Taliban suicide bomber in April attacked a bus carrying government workers on the outskirts of Kabul, killing 11 of them. In January, a similar attack aimed at Afghanistan’s leading news channel, Tolo, killed seven media workers.
Thousands of Nepalis are thought to be working in Afghanistan, many for large security firms or embassies.
Special to The Washington Post ยท Sayed Salahuddin
