Afghanistan; Suicide Bombing During Volleyball Match Leaves 50 Dead

Following a suicide attack during a volleyball match in eastern Afghanistan, nearly 50 people were killed and dozens injured. This attack occurred on December 2 in Yahyakhel, Paktika province, near the border with Pakistan, where the suicide bomber reached the crowd gathered to watch the game before detonating the bomb. Ataullah Fazli, the deputy governor of Paktika, told AFP that the attacker arrived on a motorcycle. On the other hand, the Associated Press quoted a spokesperson for Paktika province stating that the attacker was on foot and blended in with the crowd. According to Mr. Fazli, a large number of people, including a group of local officials and the regional police chief, were among the spectators. He stated that at least 60 people were injured, some of whom are in critical condition. The spokesperson for Paktika province also confirmed that the condition of many of the injured is serious. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, the President of Afghanistan, condemned the attack. AFP reports that there has been no immediate reaction from the Taliban indicating their involvement in the attack. Paktika province was also the scene of a major suicide attack last summer in a local market that left at least 41 people dead. The attack on Sunday occurred just as the Wolesi Jirga, the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Afghanistan, approved a security agreement with the United States and NATO, which allows for the presence of 1,200 NATO forces in the country. The approval of the security agreement was welcomed by Ashraf Ghani, who described it in a statement as 'an important step for strengthening national sovereignty and ensuring security.' The security agreements between Kabul, Washington, and NATO were signed one day after the inauguration ceremony of President Ashraf Ghani.