Five Emiratis killed in Afghanistan attack

Five Emiratis were killed in a bomb attack in Afghanistan on Tuesday.

The men were carrying out humanitarian, educational and development work in Afghanistan. The UAE ambassador to Afghanistan, Juma Al Kaabi, was also injured in the explosion, in Kandahar, as previously reported.

The dead were named on Wednesday as Mohammed Ali Zainal Al Bastaki, Abdullah Mohammed Essa Obaid Al Kaabi, Ahmed Rashid Salim Ali Al Mazroui, Ahmed Abdul Rahman Ahmad Al Tunaiji, and Abdul Hamid Sultan Abdullah Ibrahim Al Hammadi.

President Sheikh Khalifa, mourning the deaths, called for the lowering of the UAE flag for three days in all ministries, government departments and institutions to honour those killed, reported state news agency Wam

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said "It is with pride that we mourn today the martyrs of Emirati humanitarian work in Afghanistan.

"Five martyrs have given their lives while striving to serve the weak, the children and the needy.

"There is no humane, moral or religious justification behind the explosion and the killing of those who seek to help others. May God grant mercy on their souls.

"The Emirati people are proud of their sons who work in the humanitarian field and the country raises its head up high today for the martyrs who fell in the name of humanity unknown to those terrorists."

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, said "Abhorrent acts of terror conducted by forces of evil and darkness won’t deter us from walking the path of giving and charity.

"Their criminal actions won’t terrorise us nor force us to abandon our humanitarian principles, including extending a helping hand to nations.

"We lost our heroes as they carried out their humanitarian mission. They are a source of pride for our nation. May God bless their souls."

Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, said: "Losing martyrs on the path of good and supporting our brothers in humanity marks the difference between the white hands of the UAE and the black hands terror.

"Sheikh Zayed’s UAE always believes that giving does not come without sacrifice and our martyrs today in Kandahar have been added to the UAE’s record, on the blank pages of might and glory."

Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, offered his condolences in a tweet, stating: "May God have mercy on their souls. May God grant their families patience and solace."

In Kandahar, two explosions inside the heavily guarded governor’s compound killed at least seven people and wounded 18 others — including the UAE ambassador and governor Homayun Azizi. The bomb was hidden inside a sofa. At least 52 people were killed in the Afghan capital, Kabul, and the south in a day of widespread violence.

The ambassador was in Kandahar to lay the foundation stone for the UAE-funded Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan orphanage and to sign an agreement with Kardan University for the UAE to offer scholarships there.

The UN Security Council, France, the GCC and Jordan were among the first to condemn Tuesday’s attacks and express solidarity with the UAE and government of Afghanistan in the fight against terrorism and extremism.

The United Nations extended its condolences to the families of the victims and wished a swift recovery to those injured. In its statement, the UN said: "Indiscriminate attacks against civilians, including diplomatic envoys, are violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and cannot be justified."

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: "The State of Qatar condemns this criminal act which aims to destabilise security and stability in Afghanistan, and it affirms its solidarity with the UAE and its people."

The Foreign Ministry in Kuwait, quoted by the Kuwait News Agency, said: "This terrorist crime, which targeted the noble humanitarian action and those supervising it, showed again how the menace of terrori