ISIS Claims Attack at Afghan Presidential Inauguration

Two blasts were heard as Afghanistan’s two rival leaders held parallel presidential inaugurations in Kabul on Monday, 9 March.

(Photo: ANI)

ISIS group claimed responsibility for an attack on Monday, 9 March, near the presidential palace in Afghanistan where rival presidential inaugurations were taking place.

“Caliphate soldiers targeted the inauguration of the tyrant Ashraf Ghani”, firing 10 rockets near the presidential palace in Kabul, the jihadist group said in a statement released via its usual social media channels.

Two blasts were heard as Afghanistan's two rival leaders held parallel presidential inaugurations in Kabul on Monday, underscoring the country's woeful security ahead of talks with a resurgent Taliban.

Hundreds of people had assembled at two venues inside the presidential palace complex to watch the swearing-in ceremonies for President Ashraf Ghani and challenger Abdullah Abdullah, when the blasts were heard, prompting some to flee.

"I have no bulletproof vest on, only my shirt, I will stay even if I have to sacrifice my head," Ghani told the remaining crowd, as sirens sounded overhead.

(This is a developing story. It will be updated with more details.)

(Published in an arrangement with PTI.)