US condemns attack on Intercontinental Hotel

WASHINGTON, DC (PAN have claimed responsibility.

“The United States strongly condemns the attack on the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul, which once again demonstrates the terrorists’ complete disregard for human life,” State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.

Extending America’s condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the attack, the State Department spokesperson also expressed US support for the Afghan security forces who are working to secure the site. 

“All Chief of Mission personnel are accounted for.  We do not have any information about private American citizens at this time, but continue to follow up on the situation,” she said.

The US Special Representative for Afghanistan, Mark Grossman, and all members of his delegation departed Kabul earlier on Tuesday and are presently en route to Washington, she aid. 

Responding to questions, Nuland said there is no change in conditions for talks with the Taliban. “The US rules of the road for reconciliation of Taliban haven’t changed. They need to renounce violence, they need to accept the Afghan Constitution, including respecting rights for women, and they need to break with Al Qaeda,” she said.

“Those are the conditions for completing a reconciliation process. You can’t be reconciled unless all of those things are in place. So Pakistan, as I understand it, did participate in the meeting today and those contacts continue,” she said.

In another announcement, the State Department said that after a trip to Hungary and Lithuania, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton would travel to Madrid, Spain on at the beginning of July, where she will discuss Afghanistan among other issues.

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