‘Terrorists can’t divide Afghans’: President Ghani

KABUL (TOLO News): President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday night visited the maternity hospital in the west of Kabul, hours after three attackers stormed the facility packed with defenseless mothers, children and newborn babies.

Meeting with hospital officials, Mr. Ghani said that the ‘terrorists’ will never be able to create discord among the Afghan people.

“The Afghan people are a unified nation,” said Ghani, stating that the “terrorists,” by targeting certain people (attacks on Afghan Shias) cant create division among the Afghan people.

“No Afghan is superior or inferior to any other,” added Ghani.

At least 24 people–many mothers and pregnant women–were killed in the attack on a 100-bed maternity hospital in the west of Kabul on Tuesday. 16 others were wounded in the attack.

According to Ghani, those who are deliberately attacking children and women has nothing to do with the Islamic laws.

“Today I am a Hazara (an Afghan ethnic group), today I am a Shia (the Shiite). If they (militant groups) think that they can split us or can create discord among us or use us against each other, they will take this road to the grave,” said Ghani.

Ghani also visited Ataturk hospital where he inquired about the health conditions of the 20 babies who are under treatment.

At least 20 newborn babies remained without caretakers following the attack on the maternity hospital in the west of Kabul, according to doctors, who say there is no news on their families so far.

Ghani also directed the relevant officials to take swift action to repair the hospital.

“This hospital is the symbol of our unity,” said Ghani.