Suicide Blast in Baghlan Province, Afghanistan

We condemn the attack that has killed and injured so many innocent civilians - including elected Afghan parliamentarians and school children. We send our condolences to the families of the victims. There is no political cause that can justify the murder of innocent people. Those responsible seek only to foster fear and limit freedom; and they should be brought to justice.

The enemies of peace and freedom want to gain through violence, threat, and intimidation what they cannot win in free and fair elections. The United States continues to support and work with the Government of Afghanistan and the Afghan people to eliminate terrorist threats and build an open, stable, and democratic Afghanistan.