Foreign forces condemn Eid-eve Afghan mosque bombing

The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) has strongly condemned the bomb attack that claimed the life of Arsala Jamal, the governor of Afghanistan's Logar province, and injured 15 others Tuesday, the alliance said in a statement received Wednesday.

"ISAF strongly condemns the bombing of a mosque in Pul-i-Alam the capital of Logar province that killed and wounded more than a dozen civilians who were celebrating Eid-e-Qurban. Among those killed was the governor of Logar province, Arsala Jamal," Xinhua reported citing the statement.

"Governor Arsala Jamal was reading out a message to the locals following the Eid-ul Adha prayer Tuesday morning when an improvised explosive device (IED) which was planted under the tribune inside the mosque was detonated, killing Jamal at the scene and wounding 15 others," provincial government spokesman Din Mohammad Darwish told Xinhua.

Eid-ul Adha or Eid-ul Qurban is the biggest annual religious festival celebrated by Muslims across the globe.

The commander of the NATO-led ISAF forces in Afghanistan, Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, also expressed sympathy with the families of the victims.

"This indiscriminate violence, on a day reserved for national peace and celebration, reflects a complete disregard for the sanctity of life," Dunford said in the statement.

Afghan officials put responsibility of the attack on Taliban militants.

President Hamid Karzai has also condemned the deadly bombing.