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Pompeo Repeats US Commitment to Afghan Peace After Deadly Blasts

Reuters

   KABUL - U.S. Secretary of State MikePompeo said Saturday that
   Washington remained committed to peaceand stability in Afghanistan as
   police searched for bodies inthe rubble of a mosque in eastern
   Nangarhar province where bombblasts killed at least 69 people.

   The explosives that went off during Friday prayers wereplaced inside
   the mosque in theJawdaraarea of theHaskaMenadistrict. On Friday, local
   officials had reported the number ofdead at 62 and about50 wounded.

   "The United States remains committed to peace and stabilityin
   Afghanistan, and will continue to fight against terrorism,"Pompeo said
   in a statement. "We stand by the people ofAfghanistan who only want
   peace and a future free from theseabhorrent acts of violence."

   SohrabQaderi, a member of Nangarhar's provincial council,said the
   mosque, with a capacity of more than 150 worshippers ata time, was full
   of people when the bombs exploded.

   "Bodies of 69 people, including children and elders, havebeen handed to
   their relatives,"Qaderisaid, adding that morebodies could be lying
   under the rubble.

   No group has claimed responsibility but the governmentblamed Taliban
   insurgents, who are fighting to reimpose strictIslamic law after they
   were ousted from power in 2001 byU.S.-led forces.

   SuhailShaheen, a spokesman for the Taliban, denied thegroup was
   responsible. In a tweet, he said that witnesses to theattack said it
   was a mortar attack by government forces.

   'Huge boom'

   One of the wounded,Gulabistan, 45, said the mosque was fullwhen the
   explosion happened.

   "Mullah already started prayers and reciting verses of the holy Quran,
   when a huge boom happened. Then all around me it gotdark. The only
   thing I remember is females' voices, and then Ifound myself in the
   hospital,"Gulabistansaid.

   He said he had been told his son was among the dead, whilehis brother
   and two nephews had been wounded and were inhospital.

   A Reuters reporter saw 67 freshly excavated graves for thevictims
   inJawdaravillage.

   The European Union said the attack aimed to undermine hopesfor peace
   and reconciliation in Afghanistan.

   The Taliban and Islamic State fighters are activelyoperating in parts
   of Nangarhar, which shares a border withPakistan in the east.

   A U.N. report this week said 4,313 civilians werekilled and wounded in
   Afghanistan's war between July andSeptember.

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