The explosion at the mosque in Haska Mina district of Nangarhar province, which resulted in at least 62 dead and 60 wounded, has provoked strongly-worded responses from Afghan leaders and from the international community.

Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said on Twitter:“The Mosque bombing in Nangarhar Province once again shows the terrorists’ utter disregard for human life & our faith. We pray for the martyrs & injured but vow to punish the culprits…”

The blasts happened yesterday around 1:30 pm in the Jaw Dara area of the Haska Meyna district during Friday prayers.

The UN issued the following statement on Friday:

“The Secretary-General strongly condemns the 18 October attack inside a mosque during Friday prayers in Nangarhar province, eastern Afghanistan…Those responsible for this attack must be held accountable.

Also, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), while condemning the targeting of civilians in the Nangarhar mosque blast, said that it will initiate an investigation of the attack, and noted that “attacks against places of worship are serious violations of international law that may amount to war crimes.”

NATO also condemned the attack and stated that it “will stand with Afghanistan and the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces to fight international terrorism.”

US ambassador John Bass in a tweet condemned the attack and offered his condolences to the victims and their families.

Bass said that “killing worshippers assembled together in peace is unconscionable” and that “all Afghans have the right to live and worship together in safety.”

The European Union condemned the mosque incident in Nangarhar, saying the attack “aims at undermining hopes for peace and reconciliation.”

The British Embassy in Kabul condemned the deaths of worshippers during Friday prayers in Nangarhar province and called for an end to the violence.

The UAE also strongly condemned the Nangarhar mosque attack and expressed its sincere condolences and sympathies to the families of victims.

Sediq Sediqqi, President Ghani’s spokesman, in a tweet strongly condemned the blasts and called out the Taliban for continuing to target civilians.

The Taliban has denied responsibility for the blasts.