MOSCOW, March 25. /TASS/. Russia strongly condemns the March 21 terrorist attack in Afghanistan, which claimed the lives of dozens of innocent citizens and expresses its condolences to the families of the victims, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said in a commentary.

"We strongly condemn the barbaric terrorist attack committed on March 21 by an extremist suicide bomber at the entrance to a bank in Kandahar. This attack, which claimed the lives of several dozen innocent people, was distinguished by extreme cynicism, as it was carried out during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. It was aimed at destabilizing the situation in the spiritual capital of Afghanistan," Zakharova said.

She expressed "deep condolences to the families of the victims" and wished "a speedy recovery to the injured."

"We hope that the Afghan authorities will be able to track down and bring to justice the organizers of the terrorist attack in Kandahar," Zakharova concluded.

On March 21, an explosion took place at an office of New Kabul Bank in the city of Kandahar in southern Afghanistan. As the TOLOnews TV channel reported, the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber. The Iranian news agency Tasnim quoted local sources as saying that at least 19 people died and more than 20 others were injured. According to the Al Jazeera channel, the Islamic State (terrorist group banned in Russia) claimed responsibility.