Residents and former military personnel have lambasted government agencies for its failure to repel the militants from taking over Kabul’s Intercontinental Hotel on Saturday evening.

According to reports, six Taliban militants orchestrated the attack. The militants entered the hotel premises and engaged in a gunfight with security officials, spanning several hours.

Local Tolo News quoted sources as saying that among the deceased were 11 foreign nationals, who were at the hotel when the attack broke out.

Criticizing the government, former military officer Mohammad Agul Mujahid told the outlet, "Until government strengthens the investigative and intelligence departments and while it has no influence over the enemy to gain information and discover their plans, it will not be able to prevent such attacks."

In their defence, the security officials said that the militants gained access from the backdoor, entered the kitchen and slowly moved to other parts of the building, before attacking.

Confirming the statement, interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said, "Preliminary reports say that insurgents entered the kitchen from the north part of the hotel and then entered the first lobby and then started fighting with the security forces."

However, locals have blamed the mismanagement and the double standards for the occurrence.

"The gates get opened for the vehicles with blacked out windows and no one stops them and asks them who they are and where they are going," a local told Tolo News.

Another local added that this was however not the same for everyone as some of them face checking at 13 different points.

Seven years ago, the same hotel was attacked by Taliban forces, resulting in the loss of 21 lives.

Condemnation

The attack has been heavily criticized by the UNAMA, as it said that the attack could amount to war crime.

"There is simply no justification for this egregious attack, which is specifically prohibited by International Humanitarian Law and may amount to a war crime,” said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan.

"It is a moral outrage that the Taliban entered the hotel with the intention of killing civilians,” the UN envoy said. “All parties to the armed conflict in Afghanistan are bound to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, at all times.”

Condemning the attack, Pakistan's Foreign Affairs Ministry stated, "Pakistan strongly condemns the brutal terrorist attack at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul last evening. We express deep grief and sorrow at the loss of precious human lives and the injuring of many others in this terrorist act."

"The government and the people of Pakistan convey solidarity and support with the government and people of Afghanistan at this dastardly terrorist attack. We convey our deepest sympathies for those who have lost their loved ones and our sincere prayers and wishes are for early recovery of those who have sustained injuries in this heinous terror attack," Islamabad has said.

US Ambassador to Afghanistan John R. Bass said, "I condemn in the strongest terms last night’s heinous attack on the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul.  Such violence has no place here or anywhere in the world.  I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the victims.  I also commend the bravery and quick response of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces.  The US Embassy is in close contact with Afghan authorities, who are continuing to investigate the incident."

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai said, "I strongly condemn the terrorist attack on Kabul Intercontinental Hotel that killed and wounded civilians. I convey my deepest sympathies to the families of martyrs and wish a speedy recovery to the wounded."

A statement from the Afghanistan President's office read, "Recently, the Afghan government and the UN Security Council delegation during its visit to Kabul reached a conclusion about mounting more pressure on the supporters of terrorist groups."

"The terrorist attack on Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul and similar terrorist attacks call on all to jointly act against terrorism without considering any kind of differentiation,” ARG press release added.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said, "Reports about attack having being carried out by terrorists of internationally proscribed Haqqani Network are a matter of serious concern and bring to the fore once again the need to effectively deal with safe havens and sanctuaries that these terrorists find in our shared neighbourhood. India stands in solidarity with the government and the people of Afghanistan in bringing the perpetrators of these terrorist attacks and their supporters to justice."

Image: Screengrab from YouTube