GENEVA - A bus carrying staff of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) was struck by an explosive device early Monday morning in the eastern city of Jalalabad.

Two AIHRC were killed and six others injured. No one has so far claimed responsibility. The following is a comment by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein:

“I strongly condemn this disgraceful attack. Afghanistan’s Independent Human Rights Commission is one of the country’s most important institutions. Since it was founded in 2002, it has made valiant efforts to monitor and report on the human rights situation in Afghanistan, with the aim of improving the everyday life of all Afghans after decades of conflict and violations. It has done its best to resist pressures from Government and opposition alike as it goes about its difficult and dangerous daily work.”

“This attack was, therefore, first and foremost an attack on the Afghan people. This is a cowardly and reprehensible attack, and I hope, despite the tragic loss of their staff, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission will simply come back stronger and more effective than ever, and the United Nations will do its utmost to help it do so.”