US blames ISIS for Kabul maternity attack that killed newborns

ISIS claimed responsibility for a funeral bombing on the same day but no group has claimed the maternity ward attack

In May, 24 women, children and babies – including one midwife – were killed when gunmen entered the Dasht-e-Barchi hospital in western Kabul and opened fire. Frederic Bonnot / Médecins Sans Frontières

People react at the scene of an attack at an MSF (Doctors without Borders) clinic in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA

An Afghan man reacts at the scene after an attack at MSF (Doctors without Borders) clinic in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA

Babies are taken away by ambulance after gunmen attacked a maternity hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP Photo

People shift injured victims of a suicide bomb attack to a hospital in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. EPA

An Afghan security officer carries a baby after gunmen attacked a maternity hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP Photo

An Afghan man reacts after his relative was killed in an attack at an MSF (Doctors without Borders) clinic in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA

Afghan women sit in an ambulance after being rescued by security forces during an attack and gunfire at a hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan. REUTERS

People shift injured victims of a suicide bomb attack to a hospital in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. EPA

Smokes rises from a hospital after gunmen attacked in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP Photo

Afghan security forces arrive at the site of an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. REUTERS

Afghan security personnel arrive at the site of an attack outside a hospital in Kabul. AFP

An Afghan soldier stands guard near the scene of an attack at an MSF (Doctors without Borders) clinic in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA

An Afghan woman is brought to Emergency hospital for medical treatment after she was injured during an attack at an MSF (Doctors without Borders) clinic in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA

Afghan security personnel arrive at the site where gunmen attacked, in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP Photo

The US negotiator on Afghanistan blamed ISIS on Thursday for the shocking attack on a maternity hospital as he urged the government and Taliban to stick to a faltering peace process.

Zalmay Khalilzad said the US government had assessed that the Islamic State in Khorasan, the Afghan branch of the extremists, carried out Tuesday's dual attacks on the Kabul hospital and on a funeral in eastern Afghanistan.

The Islamic State group "opposes a peace agreement between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban, and seeks to encourage sectarian war as in Iraq and Syria," Mr Khalilzad wrote on Twitter.

"Rather than falling into the ISIS trap and delay peace or create obstacles, Afghans must come together to crush this menace and pursue a historic peace opportunity," he wrote.

"No more excuses. Afghans, and the world, deserve better."

A woman sits next to newborn babies who lost their mothers following a suicide attack in a maternity hospital, in Kabul. AFP

Newborn babies lie in their beds at the Ataturk Children's Hospital after they were rescued from a deadly attack on another maternity hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP Photo

A newborn baby is cared for at the Ataturk Children's Hospital after being rescued from a deadly attack on another maternity hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP Photo

A rescued mother and her newborn baby take medical care in a hospital after the complex attack at MSF hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA

A Rescued newborn baby receives medical care in a hospital after the complex attack at MSF hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA

Rescued twin newborn babies receive medical care in a hospital a day after the complex attack at MSF hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA

An Afghan nurse observes newborn children who lost their mothers during an attack at a hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. REUTERS

Newborn children who lost their mothers during the attack lie on a bed at a hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. REUTERS

A rescued mother and her newborn baby receive medical care in a hospital after the complex attack at MSF hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA

Afghans light candles during a memorial for the victims of MSF hospital and Funeral suicide bomb attack, in Herat, Afghanistan. EPA

ISIS group claimed responsibility for the funeral bombing, which killed 32 mourners.

But no group has taken credit for the assault on the maternity hospital where at least 24 people including newborns, mothers and nurses were killed.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo earlier highlighted the Taliban's denials and also urged progress on reconciliation.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, voicing outrage over the attacks, said his internationally recognised government would resume offensive operations against the Taliban.

The government, hoping to pave the way for peace talks with the Taliban, had been observing a unilateral policy of only responding defensively when attacked.

The insurgents on February 29 signed an agreement with the United States, which has begun withdrawing troops as part of President Donald Trump's hope to end America's longest-ever war.

The Taliban imposed an austere brand of Islam over much of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 and welcomed Al-Qaeda but have increasingly jostled for influence with ISIS.

In making a deal with the United States, the Taliban agreed to oppose foreign extremists and not attack Western troops, although they have kept up violence against Afghan forces.

Afghanistan's intelligence agency has linked the Islamic State group to the Taliban-linked Haqqani network, which the United States considers a terrorist group.