Sheikh Khalifa leads nation in mourning five Emiratis killed in Afghanistan bombing

UAE flags are lowered at the Abu Dhabi Municipality offices. Ravindranath K / The National

ABU DHABI // President Sheikh Khalifa has announced three days of mourning after the loss of Emirati life in Afghanistan on Tuesday night.

Flags across the country will also be lowered to half mast as a mark of respect to the five in the UAE delegation who were killed in the bomb blast.

Emiratis in the capital were in shock at the news of the deaths but said that they did not die in vain and they represented the country’s willingness to help others through humanitarian work.

The five who were killed were Mohammed Ali Al Bastaki, 62, from Abu Dhabi, delegate minister at the UAE Embassy in Kabul; Abdullah Mohammed Al Kaabi, 35, from Al Ain, third secretary at the embassy; Ahmed Rashid Al Mazroui, 40, from Sharjah, a deputy aid director; Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al Tunaiji, 45, from Ras Al Khaimah, and Abdul Hamid Sultan Al Hammadi, 53, from Abu Dhabi, both advisers at the embassy.

Two explosions inside the heavily-guarded governor’s compound killed at least seven people, including the five Emiratis, and wounded 18 others. The bomb was hidden inside a sofa.

Among those injured were Juma Al Kaabi, UAE Ambassador to Afghanistan, and the governor of Kandahar, Homayun Azizi.

In addition, at least 52 people were killed in the Afghan capital, Kabul, and the south of the country in a day of violence.

The Taliban, which admitted to the bomb blasts in Kabul, denied planting a bomb in the Kandahar attack. The group issued a short statement on Wednesday blaming an “internal local rivalry”.

UAE leaders and officials mourned those killed and condemned the attack.

“The attack will not deter the UAE from continuing its efforts to fight terrorists, who targeted a meeting that was discussing a better future for Kandahar,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said the country mourned with pride the heroes who died while carrying out humanitarian work.

“Five martyrs have given their lives while striving to serve the weak, the children and the needy,” he said.

“There is no humane, moral or religious justification behind the explosion and the killing of those who seek to help others.”

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, said: “Abhorrent acts of terror conducted by forces of evil and darkness won’t deter us from walking the path of giving and charity.”

Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, said that losing heroes on the “path of good and supporting our brothers in humanity” marks the difference between the UAE and terror.

“Sheikh Zayed’s UAE always believes that giving does not come without sacrifice and our martyrs today in Kandahar have been added to the UAE’s record, on the blank pages of might and glory,” he said.

A relative of Abdulhamid Sultan Al Hammadi said that as sad the death of his mother’s cousin is, it is also an honour to family.

Recalling the times he spent with Abdulhamid, Faisal Al Hammadi said that the man was always willing to help and was considerably humble.

“Whenever I’d see him at weddings or other gatherings, he’d always be helping in making the environment perfect for the people that come, he was always helping with the food, etcetera,” said the 31-year-old. “He’s the only person in the family who would do that, and it shows the kind of person he is: always helping.

“Now that I think about it, when I go to his funeral I want to do the same thing and help with the preparation. I think it will let people know that even though he has passed, his good deeds will not be forgotten.”

Although he said that this is a moment of sadness for the family, Faisal also said that it is “the time for us to be the strongest as a country”.

Others who had never met any of those who died still considered them part of an extended Emirati family.

“From my perspective, all Emiratis are one, so when one of us is helping another, he is representing all of the UAE,” said Omar Sharif. “I’m proud of them, of course. I’m proud of all Emiratis who venture out into the world to help others.”

To the families of the martyrs he said that the death is as sad as it is an honour.

“You expect news [like this] from Yemen but on a humanitarian mission, it is just sad,” he said. “To the families I’d like to say that rest assured, they are martyrs, they have the highest glory. I’ve already made peace with myself that my brother, who fights in Yemen, God forbid, could be a martyr any day. As Muslims, we know that’s the highest glory.”

Shaima Faraj, a New York University Abu Dhabi employee, said: “After hearing the news, my mum started crying. We feel so bad for the families and the people of Kandahar. We hope this will not change the situation and our humanitarian work in other countries.”

Having been involved in a humanitarian project in Egypt herself, building houses, she said that the bomb happening while people were undertaking humanitarian work was what truly shocked her.

“It could have been any of us, it could have been me in Egypt or my brother in Yemen. It is such a tragedy to us,” she said

“Even though we are seven emirates, we are all unified.”