Deadly Kabul Explosions; Biden: US Will Pursue and Punish Perpetrators of Attack

At least 60 Afghans and 13 American service members were killed in two explosions outside Kabul airport on Thursday, September 25. The Islamic State Khorasan group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Meanwhile, the US president stressed that those responsible for the attack will be prosecuted and punished.

US President Joe Biden condemned the attack on Kabul airport in a speech at the White House on Thursday evening, saying the United States will prosecute and punish the perpetrators of the attack.

The US President emphasized, "The terrorists will not be able to deter us. We will not allow them to stop our mission. We will continue the evacuation plan."

He emphasized that despite this deadly attack, American operations in Afghanistan would end on August 31st according to the predetermined schedule.

Joe Biden, however, said that he had ordered US military forces to prepare operational plans to target the perpetrators of the attack, the Islamic State Khorasan Group (ISIS Khorasan).

The US President made it clear, "We will neither forgive nor forget. We will prosecute you and you will be punished."

He emphasized that the time and place of such attacks will be determined by the United States.

The US President added that there is no evidence of collusion between the Taliban and ISIS Khorasan.

He also said that if senior US military officials want to send more troops to Afghanistan, he will do so.

Joe Biden defended his approach to his "most serious foreign policy crisis," saying he ultimately bears all the responsibility. But he added that part of the situation was related to former US President Donald Trump's 2020 deal with the Taliban, Reuters reported.

At the end of his remarks, the US President said, "Ladies and gentlemen, the time has come to end the 20-year war."

General Frank McKenzie, commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), confirmed on Thursday evening that 12 American soldiers were killed and 15 others were wounded in two explosions in Kabul.

A spokesman for the US Department of Defense, the Pentagon, announced hours later that the number of US military personnel killed in these explosions had increased to 13.

He added that the number of injured has also increased to 18.

The AFP news agency also says that the ISIS Khorasan group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport is the only air evacuation point for people from Afghanistan. American officials say that more than 100,000 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan through it so far.

Thousands of Afghans who want to leave Afghanistan have gathered around Kabul airport, hoping to be able to leave the country through this airport.

Source: Radio Farda