KABUL, March 8 (Xinhua) -- A deadly terrorist attack against a military hospital in Afghanistan's capital of Kabul, for which the Islamic State (IS) outfit claimed responsibility, has drawn wide condemnation.
More than 30 people were killed and over 50 others wounded after four suicide bombers struck Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan Hospital in fortified Wazir Akbar Khan diplomatic district Wednesday morning, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani denounced the bloody attack as a coward terrorist act and vowed that Afghan government won't talk to terrorists, who are killing the innocent people of Afghanistan.
"According to international humanitarian laws, hospitals are immune from attacks. The Wednesday's terrorist attack clearly evinces that terrorists don't follow any rules and laws," the president said in a statement.
Among the casualties were doctors, patients and civilian staff of the 400-bed hospital, according to the defense ministry statement.
President Ghani also ordered concerned security entities to bring to justice all those involved in the heinous crime besides instructing the health authorities to provide best medical treatment for the wounded.
Afghan government's Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) also condemned the deadly attack in its strongest terms.
"This morning, attackers reportedly disguised as medical doctors detonated a suicide body-borne IED at the entrance gate to the hospital, after which several attackers armed with AK-47s, grenades and suicide vests entered the facility. The armed attackers proceeded to target patients and medical workers before Afghan security forces ended the assault.
"Islamic State operatives claimed responsibility for the attack. The UNAMA continues to verify the number of civilian casualties, which are reportedly high," UNAMA said in a statement.
"This egregious and morally reprehensible attack targeted people at their most vulnerable, while they were receiving treatment in the hospital, and also targeted the medical staff caring for them," Pernille Kardel, the Secretary-General's deputy special representative for Afghanistan and acting head of UNAMA, was quoted in the statement.
"This cowardly attack reflects a fundamental rejection of the most basic principles of humanity," she said. "Without question, it amounts to an atrocity, and the perpetrators must be held accountable."
"Attacks on hospitals are a heinous crime against humanity and humanitarian law. No justification possible," the Afghanistan ICRC twitted.
"The attack on the Kabul military hospital is reprehensible and we condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms. Once again insurgents show complete disrespect for humanity by attacking a hospital. We stand with Afghan people against terrorism," NATO-led Resolute Support Mission said in a statement.
Several injured remained in critical conditions. And many women were among the victims.
The attack came as the country was marking the International Women's Day, which falls on March 8.
More than 3,490 civilians were killed and over 7,920 others injured in conflict-related incidents across Afghanistan last year, according to figures released by the UNAMA.
