KABUL: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Thursday that it has suspended operations across Afghanistan after a deadly attack on its office in the volatile eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad.
“As a consequence of the attack… all our activities have been frozen and our office in Jalalabad is closed.” the humanitarian organization said in a statement issued on Thursday.
At least one security guard was killed and several others, including a foreign national, were injured after an explosion took place at the ICRC gate in the city on Wednesday.
Following the explosion, unknown gunmen stormed the compound and a gun battle broke out between security forces and the assailants.
On the same day, Jacques de Maio, the ICRC’s head of operations for South Asia issued a statement condemning the attack “in the strongest possible terms.”
No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, but Taliban militants, who have carried out similar attacks in the past, are considered prime suspects.
The Taliban recently announced the start of their annual “spring offensive” across Afghanistan and vowed to increase their attacks on US-led troops stationed in the country as well as Afghan forces.
The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but insecurity remains across the country despite the presence of thousands of foreign troops.
