Third blast averted? Pakistan Haqqani bomber arrested in Kabul

A Pakistani bomber belonging to the Haqqani network was arrested after the dastardly bombings in Kabul that killed more than 100 people, including 13 US soldiers, on Thursday, a media report said.

According to sources, cited by CNN-News18, a third blast was planned at the Turkmenistan embassy in Kabul. And the Taliban had information about the nexus between the Haqqani network and Pakistan in the twin blasts, and the proposed third blast at the embassy. However, two people were arrested before the said explosion place, the report quoted sources as saying.

The media report, citing sources, said that both the arrested persons are Pakistani and added that they are still in the custody of the Taliban.

More a 100 people were killed in two explosions that rocked the Kabul airport on Thursday. Thirteen US soldiers, including 12 Marines and a Navy medic, were among those killed and 18 other service members were injured in the Kabul airport blasts.

Hours after the blasts, the Afghan affiliate of the Islamic State—ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K)—claimed responsibility for the attack. The ISIS statement said the bomber got around US security measures and that the camp that was targeted was where US forces were gathering paperwork for those who have worked with the military. The statement, however, made no mention of a second suicide bomber or gunmen.

Strongly “condeming” the Kabul airport twin blasts, the Taliban said that the US was warned of a possible terror attack by the ISIS. The Taliban termed the explosions outside Kabul airport a “terrorist act”. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that the group has “strongly condemned” the attack outside Kabul airport, adding that it took place at an area controlled by US forces.

Mujahid said that the group had provided information to the Americans about a possible terror attack by an Afghan affiliate of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria [ISIS] and Daesh)—ISIS-Khorasan.

Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen, while “strongly” condemning “this gruesome incident”, said that they “will take every step to bring the culprits to justice”.

Meanwhile, the Taliban have asked Turkey to run the Kabul airport, but Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that no decision has been made so far. “The Taliban have made a request for us to operate Kabul airport. We have not yet made a decision on this matter,” he said on Friday.