ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday condemned the terrorist attack in Kabul that killed at least 29 people.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have suffered in this tragedy,” said an official statement released by the country’s foreign office. “We are relieved that the (Afghan) leadership has remained unharmed.”

“Pakistan has consistently supported a negotiated political solution of the Afghan conflict,” it added. “This is a historic juncture. Pakistan urges all the parties to work together in a constructive spirit for establishing durable peace and stability in Afghanistan.”

The attack on a political rally in Kabul on Friday appeared to be the first act of violence to hit the capital since the United States signed a withdrawal deal with the Taliban.

Afghan health ministry spokesman Wahidullah Mayar told AFP that 32 people had been killed, while another 58 people were wounded.

Interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi put the death toll at 29, with an additional 61 wounded. He said special forces units had carried out clearance operations, killing the two gunmen who conducted the attack.

The Taliban immediately denied responsibility for the assault, which occurred at the commemoration ceremony for Abdul Ali Mazari — a politician from the Hazara ethnic group, most of whom are Shiite.

“We left the ceremony following the gunfire, and a number of people were wounded, but I do not have any reports of martyred people for now,” Hazara leader Mohammad Mohaqiq told Tolo News.

The ceremony was attended by many of the country’s political elite, including Afghanistan’s chief executive Abdullah Abdullah.

The interior ministry later confirmed to reporters that “all the high-ranking officials were safely evacuated from the scene.”

The incident comes less than a week after the US and Taliban signed a deal that would pave the way for the complete withdrawal of foreign troops in 14 months.

However, fighting has continued to rage across the country, casting a pall over hopes that the agreement would lead to a reduction in violence.