The United States of America has condemned the attack on Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul, and on Monday urged Pakistan to expel Taliban terrorists from its soil.
"We call on Pakistan to immediately arrest or expel the Taliban's leaders and prevent the group from using Pakistani territory to support its operations," White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders said. "In Afghanistan, where terrorists attacked the hotel in Kabul, such attacks on civilians only strengthen our resolve to support our Afghan partners," she added.
Pakistan, however, denied its involvement in the attack that claimed 22 lives. Some reports say the original number could be much higher.
Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mohammad Faisal took to Twitter to condemn the attack, and wrote, "We reject the knee jerk allegations by some Afghan circles to point the finger at Pakistan for the terrorist attack on intercontinental hotel in Kabul. There is need for a credible investigation into the attack, including on reported security lapses."
More details of the attack has emerged, and witnesses revealed that the terrorists went from room to room looking for foreigners. One person who was trapped inside the hotel claimed he was spared because he was an Afghan.
The attack ended after a 13-hour standoff on Sunday, with all six militants killed by Afghan forces, supported by Norwegian troops.
It is not immediately known how terrorists breached security, which was taken over by a private company less than a month ago. But a witness revealed shortly after the attack that he saw guards fleeing the scene without trying to fight back.
“They didn’t attack,” an employee at the hotel told AFP. “They didn’t do anything to them. They had no experience.” The 24-year-old spoke on the condition of anonymity and said the security team was with him when he left the building. “I was asking them, where should I go?”
The Taliban had targeted the hotel back in 2011 as well.
Kulsuma Aktergetty images