Islamist militant group Hezb-e-Islami's claim that a woman carried out the suicide bombing in Afghanistan's capital Tuesday morning has shocked government officials, with some claiming it cannot be true.
While condemning yesterday's suicide attack outside Kabul International Airport which killed 12 civilians including nine foreigners, a number of lawmakers and senators counter-claimed that no Afghan woman would willingly make herself part of such a deed.
The militant Hezb-e-Islami told multiple media outlets Tuesday that the bomber, who also died in the massive explosion, was 18-year-old Fatima from Kabul.
Kabul MP Shukria Barakzai struggled to believe it.
"Not under any circumstances could one who is a mother herself and has given birth to a child could kill another human or herself," she said.
Herat MP Nahid Farid lamented the use of a woman as a bomber.
"I condemn the idea of using women as a tool in my society. Women should be messengers of peace, not messengers of insecurity and tension," he said.
Senator and member of the Senate's committee for religious and cultural affairs Rana Tarin said a woman loses her "sanctity" when used in this way.
"According to Islam, humanity, and the creation of mankind, I don't see it why a woman who is a mother needs to carry out an act in which she as a woman would lose her sanctity," she said.
The lawmakers also voiced their concern over the insecurity in the country, especially its larger cities.
Tuesday's bombing was the second in Kabul in ten days after a suicide attack struck in high security area near the Nato headquarters on September 8, killing six Afghan civilians, mostly children.