Infants and mothers killed in attack on Kabul hospital

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has directed security forces to resume offensive operations against the Taliban, hours after separate attacks at a maternity hospital and a funeral ceremony left dozens of people dead.

At least 11 were killed in a Tuesday morning attack on a Kabul hospital, including mothers, nurses and two newborn babies, Afghanistan’s interior ministry said Tuesday.
Shortly after, a suicide bomber targeted a funeral ceremony in Nangarhar, leaving at least 24 dead and 68 injured.

“I strongly condemn recent attacks in a hospital in Kabul and Nangarhar province which killed a number of innocent people including women and children,” Ghani said on Tuesday in an address to the nation.

“Taliban have rejected our repeated call for a ceasefire, calls for ceasefire don’t mean weakness,” Ghani said. “I once again call on them to embrace peace, which is not only a demand of the government but the nation and international community.”

The Taliban has denied involvement in both attacks, according to the group’s spokesperson.

The US and Taliban signed a historic agreement in late February aimed at bringing about a permanent ceasefire.