KABUL - President Ashraf Ghani on Friday strongly condemned a terrorist attack on a Shiite mosque in the capital of southeastern Paktia province, in which dozens of people were wounded and wounded.
Some reports put the toll at 35 dead and 75 wounded in the attack that involved two blasts and gunfire at the Shiite mosque in Gardez City, the provincial capital. Earlier the governor’s spokesman, Abdullah Hasrat, told Pajhwok Afghan News that at least 15 people had been killed and more than 50 others wounded in the suicide attack.
The attack took place at about 1:30pm when people were offering Friday’s prayers at the mosque in the limits of the second police district of Gardez City, the provincial capital.
In a statement from the Presidential Palace, President Ghani termed the attack as against Islamic and human values. “The terrorists once against with show their enmity with Islam and humanity.”
The president said such criminal acts could not divide the Afghanistan people on secetrain lines because Afghanistan remained a symbol of inter-faith hormone among Muslim countries.
The president extended his condolences to the families of those killed and wounded in the attack.
The governor’s spokesman, Abdullah Hasrat, told Pajhwok Afghan News the dead and wounded were evacuated to the civil hospital, a private hospital and the military hospital in Gardez.
Area police officer Col. Jamil Hotak told Pajhwok that the blast site had been cordoned off by security forces.
An eyewitness, ShahidHaider, said the suicide blast was followed by gunfire and a second blast.  He said a number of ambulances had arrived at the scene and the casualty toll might increase. (Pajhwok)