M'sian confirmed killed in Kabul suicide attack

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 19, 2014): Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman has confirmed that a Malaysian citizen was among those killed in a suicide attack at a restaurant in Kabul, Afghanistan last Friday.
He told Bernama here that an official statement on the identity of the victim would be issued after the next-of-kin was informed.
"At the moment, Wisma Putra is in the process of contacting the victim's next-of-kin," he said.
At least 21 people, including four United Nations (UN) staff, were reported killed in Friday's suicide attack at the restaurant in the Afghan capital. According to an AFP report, the Malaysian citizen killed in the attack was working as a consultant at the Afghanistan Finance Ministry.
Meanwhile, on the two Malaysians detained by the Swedish authorities for allegedly beating the hand of one of their children for not praying, Anifah said there was no new development in the case.
"Their remand has been extended, so it is up to the court there. We have done what is possible," he said.
Meanwhile, the foreign ministry in a statement here said the confirmation of the Malaysian killed in the Kabul terrorist attack was conveyed through the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur as the British Embassy in Kabul held consular responsibility for unrepresented Commonwealth nationals in Afghanistan.
It said the identity of the deceased would not be disclosed at the moment, pending concurrence of the spouse who was currently working in Liberia.
"The ministry is currently seeking assistance from the local authorities to locate the family and next-of-kin of the deceased living in Malaysia," it added.
The Taliban has claimed responsibility of the terrorist attack in retaliation for a coalition airstrike on Jan 15, which caused several Afghan civilian casualties in a village north of Kabul.
The ministry would continue to liaise with the Malaysian High Commission in New Delhi, India which was concurrently accredited to Afghanistan and its relevant authorities on the development of the matter, said the statement. – Bernama