Saudi Arabia condemns Kabul airport attack

Cairo: Saudi Arabia has vehemently condemned a deadly bombing attack that targeted the Kabul airport, the hub for a massive airlift triggered by the Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry said the kingdom strongly condemns the “terrorist attack” and is following with concern developments in “sisterly” Afghanistan.

“The kingdom hopes that the situation will stabilise in Afghanistan as soon as possible, confirming at the same time that it stands by the Afghan people,” the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry reiterated Saudi Arabia’s rejection of such “criminal acts that contradict religious principles and all moral and human values,” it added.

A Daesh affiliate in Afghanistan has claimed responsibility for Thursday's bombings, which killed at least 72 Afghans and 13 US soldiers, in the run-up to a 31 August deadline for foreign troops’ withdrawal from Afghanistan, ending the longest US war.