Family devastated by Kabul embassy blast

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By Bilal Sarwary BBC News, Kabul

Khan Mohammad Khan is mourning five family members

When the phone rang in the early hours, Khan Mohammad Khan was asleep.

A resident of the northern English city of Sheffield, he thought it was a call from an advertising company.

When the phone kept ringing incessantly, Khan Mohammad answered.

It was a neighbour from across the world in Kabul whose message carried the type of news you dread receiving when you get a phone call at such an unusual hour.

At first, Khan Mohammad was told his son had been injured.

"They made me talk to my son. But when they told me to come to Kabul I knew something was wrong. When I rang my son-in-law he couldn't talk, but his friend told me everything."

Speaking to the BBC in Kabul, Khan Mohammad breaks down as he recalls those bitter moments.

On the morning of Monday 7 July, eight members of his family stood outside the Indian embassy in Kabul when a massive suicide bombing killed five of them, including his daughter, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren. They were among more than 50 people killed.

His three other grandchildren escaped with injuries.

'Where is my mother?'

Like hundreds of other Afghans, Khan Mohammad's family members were waiting outside the embassy for visas when the bomb went off.

Khan Mohammad's granddaughters were injured in the blast but survived

They were planning to apply for British visas when they reached the Indian capital, Delhi.

"My daughter was going to visit us and my daughter-in-law was going to join her husband. Instead, they got killed," says an inconsolable Khan Mohammad.

Friends and relatives are still dropping by to offer Fateha (prayers) and our talks are interrupted when the grandchildren start crying again.

"Where is mother? I want to see mother," his granddaughters wail. Khan Mohammad's attempt to pacify them with sweets is unsuccessful.

One relative says they had to search through several hospitals before they could find all the bodies.

"The explosion was so powerful, so many people couldn't even find their loved ones. It was very hard for us to have so many people killed from one family. I can't accept it."

No group claimed responsibility for the attack but the Afghan government has accused Pakistan's ISI intelligence agency of involvement, something that Pakistan denies.

Khan Mohammad says it was the work of the enemies of Islam.

"These criminals claim they are Muslims and humans. How can they kill so many innocent people? They are criminals and responsible for the blood they have shed," he says.

However, Khan Mohammad holds the Afghan government responsible for the attack and urges President Hamid Karzai to appoint what he calls "capable people" to ensure the safety of Afghans.

"We need professional people to be in charge, we don't need corrupt people. Those people should be in charge who care for Afghanistan, not those who are interested in filling their pockets."

'Bloody Monday'

The suicide attack on the embassy was the deadliest in Kabul since the fall of the Taleban in 2001.

The suicide bombing killed more than 50 people

Some local newspapers have christened the day "Bloody Monday".

Another man affected by the attack is 43-year-old Shah Mohammad. His nephew is still missing. He too believes that the Afghan government has failed.

"Pakistan's ISI is our enemy but our security forces have the responsibility to track these men. I have been looking for [my nephew's] body. His wife and children keep asking me where he is," says Shah Mohammad.

"Kabul has had more than 10 police chiefs in the last few years. Mr Karzai should get serious with the lives of Afghans.''

Just before I leave Khan Mohammad's house, he has a final message for President Hamid Karzai.

"Karzai must appoint good Afghans for important positions; many other families pay the price. Today they killed my family and took away everything from me - tomorrow they will take it from many others."