Afghan Parliament attack: 'Heinous attempt to subvert democratic forces', says Sonia Gandhi

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Monday expressed deep concern over the suicide terror attack on Afghan Parliament and termed it as another heinous attempt by fundamentalists to subvert democratic forces.

"Smt.Gandhi condemned the attack, terming it as another heinous attempt by fundamentalists to subvert democratic forces #Afghanistan," the official Twitter handle of Congress tweeted.

"Smt. Gandhi said that the Congress Party as indeed the entire Nation stood by the people of #Afghanistan," it added.

"Smt.Gandhi stressed that such cowardly attacks by terrorists can never deter the resolute democratic traditions gaining strength world over," it said in a series of tweets.

"Congress President,Smt.Sonia Gandhi has expressed deep concern over the suicide terror attack on Afghan Parliament," it added.

A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, has claimed responsibility for the Afghan Parliament attack on Twitter.

According to Tolo News, Kabul Police Chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi confirmed that a car detonated outside the Parliament earlier today followed by a series of explosions that resulted in immediate evacuation of MPs and journalists from the Parliament.

The attack took place as the new Defence Minister Massoom Stanekzai was being introduced to MPs.

At least nine explosions were heard within a span of half-an-hour along with sporadic gunfire.

Security forces were deployed to the area to try to bring the situation under control, said the Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi.