A suicide bomber blew himself up at a tribal festival near the southern city of Kandahar yesterday, killing at least 80 men and boys and wounding about 90 more in the bloodiest bombing in Afghanistan since 2001.

Officials said the target was a key anti-Taleban commander who played a vital role in keeping the guerrillas out of a district they have been fighting to take over for more than two years. Abdul Hakim, who died in the attack, was a staunchly independent commander with the Alokozai tribe whose private army of 500 men had fought the Taleban and sometimes clashed with Afghan security forces as well.

Mr Hakim, a former guerrilla in his late forties who had fought the Russians before serving for a while as the police chief of Kandahar, was one of the Taleban’s oldest and toughest foes in the Arghandab district west of the city. He first fought Mullah Omar, the Taleban leader, in 1994.

Although too independent to be a formal ally of the Kabul Government, he had been credited with helping to hold back Taleban fighters in one of the most strategically important regions of southern Afghanistan. The Taleban have pledged to conquer Kandahar, their old capital, and have fought bloody battles with Canadian and Afghan forces in the Arghandab, an area of orchards and farms which is one of the main approach routes to the city.

Mr Hakim’s death could be a heavy blow to attempts to hold them back. Dozens of his Alokozai tribesmen were also killed when the suicide bomber blew himself up at the tribal festival about 15 minutes’ drive from the city. Men and boys were enjoying picnics or watching dog and cock fights when the blast happened.

Six children and thirteen auxiliary policemen were among the dead. Many of the wounded were critically injured and the death toll was expected to rise. Witnesses claimed panicking bodyguards fired wildly after the explosion, hitting dazed survivors.

In Afghanistan’s previous deadliest bomb attack last November, many of the 70 dead, including schoolchildren, were shot by panicking bodyguards firing automatic weapons.

Such gatherings are a security nightmare in Afghanistan. Dignitaries, merchants and warlords like to be seen at festivals but it is almost impossible for ill-trained bodyguards to spot suicide bombers in boisterous crowds.

There were scenes of pandemonium on roads from the scene of the bombing into Kandahar yesterday as pick-up trucks full of wounded raced to the main hospital, where Afghan soldiers queued up to donate blood.

In the past two years the Taleban have assassinated dozens of their Afghan enemies with suicide bombers, killing governors, politicians and police chiefs. The attacks routinely show ruthless disregard for civilians. Its bombers have even killed worshippers when they have blown themselves up to kill targets at prayer in mosques.

The toll from yesterday’s attack was much worse than the usual suicide attack. Three pick-up trucks belonging to Mr Hakim and his bodyguards were peppered with holes, apparently from ball-bearings in the bomb.

One injured man interviewed in hospital, Abdul Qudous, told the AFP news agency: “It was all fun and two dogs had just begun fighting. Suddenly a huge flame flashed and a huge bang was heard. I didn’t know what happened next, but when I opened my eyes I found myself here.”

Wali Karzai, the President’s brother and chairman of the Provincial Council, said Mr Hakim had been the target and blamed the Taleban.

The Taleban are usually quick to claim responsibility after suicide bomb attacks but no spokesmen came forward yesterday. When bomb attacks have caused huge civilian casualties in the past, they have remained silent. The massive toll was expected to cause revulsion among Afghans who have become inured to suicide bombers but not to casualties on this scale.

It was not clear what effect Mr Hakim’s assassination would have on security in the Arghandab, but after another key Alokozai leader died at the end of last year the Taleban managed briefly to overrun much of the district.

Deadliest attacks in Afghanistan

November 6, 2007
70 people, including MPs and children, killed by suicide bombing in a factory in Baghlan province

June 17, 2007
35 people killed by a bomb on a police bus in Kabul

January 16, 2006
4 people killed in two suspected suicide attacks in Kandahar province

June 1, 2005
20 worshippers killed in bombing of mosque in Kandahar

September 10, 2007
20 killed and at least 40 injured in two suicide bombings in Gereshk in Helmand

December 29, 2007
16 policemen killed in Taleban attack on checkpoint in Maywand in Kandahar

Source: Agencies

Times Recommends

• Fish and chip shops ‘selling cobbler as cod’
• T in the Park festival at Kinross
• How to get Madonna’s Thighs