Chancellor Angela Merkel has conveyed the sympathy of the people in Germany to Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani, reported federal government spokesperson Steffen Seibert at the government press conference on Monday (29 January). The recent attacks were devastating, said Steffen Seibert. Accordingly, "we must take a resolute stance on terrorism".

Support of the international community

Lasting peace, stressed the government spokesperson, can "only be achieved by way of reconciliation among Afghans". That is the "difficult goal, in which the international community, with Germany in the front line, is supporting the Afghan government".

During an attack on a military facility in Kabul on Monday, at least 11 Afghan soldiers were killed and another 16 injured. On Saturday (27 January), a suicide bomber detonated an ambulance laden with explosives in central Kabul. According to the Afghan authorities, at least 95 people were killed and more than 150 injured.

Deputy government spokesperson Ulrike Demmer tweeted on Saturday (27 January), "The German government condemns this barbaric attack in Kabul. We mourn the many dead and injured with the Afghan people."

More resolute efforts to establish peace

The Federal Foreign Office also condemned the perfidious attack on Saturday in the strongest possible terms. "We share in the grief of the families and friends of the victims. Our thoughts are also with the large number of Afghan emergency responders, who are dong their utmost to treat the wounded at this very difficult time."

The Afghan people, continued a Federal Foreign Office spokesperson, has experienced enough senseless suffering. "This brutal violence will only strengthen the resolve of Afghanistan and its friends in their search for peace. Germany stands resolutely shoulder to shoulder with the Afghan people."