Afghan president vows revenge on Isil after deadliest attack in capital

Afghan president Ashraf Ghani has vowed revenge against Islamic State after the terror group’s first attack in the capital, reigniting concerns about its growing influence in the country. Saturday’s bombing at a peaceful march in Kabul by members of the ethnic Hazara community, who are predominantly Shia Muslim, left more than 80 dead and 230 injured. An Afghan intelligence agency claimed an Isil commander named Abo Ali had sent three bombers from Nangarhar province to carry out the attack. Two suicide bombers had attempted to target the demonstrators, but one of them was shot by police before he could detonate his explosives.

"I promise you that I will avenge the blood of our loved ones on the perpetrators of this crime, wherever they are," Mr Ghani said, declaring Sunday a national day of mourning.
Made up mostly of defected Taliban fighters and members of Pakistani insurgent groups, Islamic State of Iraq the Levant (Isil) has established itself in the eastern province of Nangarhar along the Pakistani border. With the beleaguered and inexperienced Afghan military focused on battling the Taliban, Isil has been establishing a foothold in the country in the past year. But the weekend attack, the deadliest in Kabul in more than 15 years of civil war, demonstrates its expanding reach and capabilities.