KATHMANDU, June 22: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the murder of innocent Nepalis who had gone to Afghanistan in course of employment is 'cowardly and inhumane'.
The Prime Minister said this while paying tributes to the 12 Nepalis who died in the suicide attack in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, on Monday after their bodies were brought by plane at Tribhuvan International Airport today.
The government chartered a Nepal Airlines Corporation plane and brought home the mortal remains of the Nepalis killed in the attack.
After paying tributes, the Prime Minister denounced the act of killing the Nepalis who were innocent and unrelated but working only with service motive in Afghanistan. "There is no war, no enmity; but 12 innocent Nepalis lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attack on them. I pay tribute to them on behalf of all and extend condolences to the grief-stricken families," he said.
PM Oli also wished speedy recovery to all those injured in the attack. He said the bodies would be handed over to the families of the deceased and that arrangements have been made for taking the bodies to the places concerned.
Stating how the bereaved families could be helped would be decided after holding discussions on the same once the rescue work is over, PM Oli said, "The government has done its bit as per the priority and we are mulling about the kind of assistance to be provided to the affected families after holding discussions regarding further work."
Asked what arrangements the government would make regarding the Nepali citizens working in Afghanistan who want to return home, the PM said the government would think over this matter.
Along with the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa, Home Minister Shakti Bahadur Basnet, Minister for Labour and Employment Deepak Bohara, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Ananda Prasad Pokharel and Minister of State for Federal Affairs and Local Development Kunti Kumari Shahi, among other government officials paid tributes placing flower garlands on the coffins bearing the mortal remains of the slain Nepalis.
Twelve Nepalis working as security guards at the Canadian embassy in Kabul were killed in a suicide bomb attack on a bus carrying them early Monday. Seven others have been injured in the attack.
Twenty-four Nepalis who wanted to voluntarily return home after quitting their jobs in Afghanistan also came on the same flight. RSS
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