Kabul Airport Blasts: Global Reaction
United States: President Joe Biden vowed to hunt down those behind the suicide bombings that killed American troops in the worst single-day loss for the Pentagon in Afghanistan since 2011. "We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay," Biden, visibly shaken, said in a White House address during which he said evacuations of vulnerable people would continue until August 31.
Taliban: The Taliban slammed the blasts, but pointed out they happened in an area that was under the control of US military. "The Islamic Emirate strongly condemns the bombing targeting civilians at Kabul airport," the group's spokesman tweeted.
Russia: Russia also blasted the attacks "in the strongest possible terms". "Unfortunately, the pessimistic forecasts that entrenched terrorist groups, especially ISIS, will not fail to take advantage of the chaos in Afghanistan, are being confirmed," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
China: China said it was "shocked" by the explosions. They show "the security situation in Afghanistan is still complex and severe", foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said.
Europe: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned "barbaric" attack, paying tribute to the "phenomenal effort" of those involved in the evacuation operation. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed "his condolences to the families of the American and Afghan victims".
Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged to work with partners to resettle refugees in his country. "Our hearts break for the people of Afghanistan and the loved ones of the victims, including the brave women and men of our allies," he said.
OIC: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned the "twin heinous terrorist bombings". Secretary General Yousef al-Othaimeen in a statement "reaffirmed the OIC's firm, principled position against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations."
Middle East: Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry rejected the attacks as "incompatible with all religious principles and moral and human values." Turkey's foreign ministry deplored "this heinous attack in the strongest terms," while Egypt decried the "gruesome terrorism". Iran, meanwhile, condemned "the targeting of Afghanistan's defenceless people and any terrorist operation in which women, men, youth, and children are attacked."
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