KATHMANDU, June, 21: At least 12 Nepalis and two others were killed and five were injured in a suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan's capital Kabul on Monday. Those injured in the attack are receiving treatment at a hospital in Kabul.

According to the Afghan Ministry of Interior, a suicide bomber targeted a minibus which was carrying employees working for a foreign company in Banae area at 05:40 am (Afghanistan time) Monday.

The Nepalis were on their way to the Canadian embassy where they had been working as security guards. The deceased were deployed there by Sabre Security, an Afghan company providing security for the Canadian embassy in Kabul, according to reports by news agencies.

Informing the parliament about the attack on Nepali migrant workers, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa described the incident as a heinous crime against humanity. "The government strongly condemns the terrorist attack in Kabul today," he said.

The government has asked the Afghan government to ensure security of Nepali nationals working there, he informed the parliament.

Earlier, Thapa spoke to his Afghan counterpart regarding repatriation of the bodies of Nepali nationals killed in terrorist attack, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA). "Afghan Foreign Minister has assured full cooperation for treatment of the injured and repatriation of the bodies," the ministry said.

Acting Nepali ambassador to Pakistan Tirtha Raj Aryal has been instructed to visit Afghanistan to coordinate and facilitate the treatment of the injured and repatriation of dead bodies, according to Bharat Raj Poudel, spokesperson at MoFA.

Early media reports had suggested the death of 14 Nepalis in Kabul explosion, he said. "Later, it was confirmed to be 12.

It may take few days to bring the bodies home, according to Poudel. All 12 victims killed in Kabul attack have been identified, he said.

Deceased

Chandra Bahadur Rana Magar, Kathmandu
Amrit Bahadur Thapa, Lamjung
Dambar Bahadur Tamang, Nuwakot
Krishna Bahadur Dhungana, Chitwan
Suk Bahadur Gurung, Syangja
Jitendra Singh Thapa, Butwal
Madhusadan Koirala, Nuwakot
Bir Bahadur Subedi Chhetri, Kathmandu
Lil Bahadur Gurung, Nuwakot
Nabin Bahadur Chhetri, Parbat
Ankur Tamang, Sunsari
Hari Bahadur Baruwal Chhetri, Kathmandu
 
Injured

Prem Bahadur Chhetri, Morang
Chet Prasad Sherchan, Myagdi
Kumar Bahadur Gurung, Gorkha
Man Bahadur Thapa, Chitwan
Krishna Kumar Deuja, Chitwan
Amrit Rokaya Chhetri, Surkhet
Changba Tamang, Nuwakot

Akur was reluctant to go back to Afghanistan

Dev Bahadur Tamang, Akur’s brother in Itahari:

We were watching television when there was a news report about the Kabul attack and the death of Nepali security guards. We feared for our brother who was working there. We contacted his friends. They told us that he had been injured and was undergoing treatment at a local hospital. The whole family broke down and began to weep. We prayed for his speedy recovery. But we were not lucky. In the evening, we came to know that Akur had succumbed to his injuries.
Akur was 31. He had gotten married to Goma Gole three years ago. She has been working as a nurse at a hospital in Hetauda. She is now in profound grief.
Akur left the Nepal Army five years ago to go to Afghanistan as a security guard. It was the salary that attracted him. He used to earn nearly Rs 100,000 per month.
He came home last April, and he was reluctant to go back to Afghanistan. But we encouraged him to work there for a few more years. We now regret it. The family and the village is mourning his death. We had never expected his untimely demise. We expect that the government will initiate the process for bringing the body back home at the earliest. It was a horrible attack. We wish no other family will ever have to face such an incident.  (Based on an interview with Amar Khadka)

 
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