The United States strongly condemns the suicide bombing that killed more than 50 people and wounded more than 150 outside the Abul Fazal Abbas shrine in Kabul as well as the simultaneous attack that killed four people in Mazar-e-Sharif. We extend our condolences to the people of Afghanistan and to the families of all those killed and injured.

These attacks directed at worshipers marking the Shia holy day of Ashura are deplorable, and those responsible show their complete disregard for the efforts of the Afghan people to make their country more stable, more peaceful, and more democratic. As the international community showed at the Bonn Conference yesterday, we will not allow the progress of the last 10 years to be rolled back. The United States will continue to work with the Afghan Government and people to combat violent extremism and continue progress toward a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous Afghanistan.