United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Afghanistan Juma Mohammed Abdullah al-Kaabi died on Wednesday of injuries he had sustained during a bomb blast in Afghanistan’s Kandahar in January. A statement by the UAE ministry of presidential affairs said five Emirati officials were also killed in the attack, Reuters reported.

The statement said, “With great sadness and sorrow, we mourn the martyr of the nation and his duty, the righteous son Juma Mohammed Abdullah al-Kaabi, who gave his pure soul for the sake of humanity,” news agency WAM reported.

The Taliban, which is responsible for widespread attacks on civilians in the country, has denied any involvement in the incident. It said the strike was a result of “internal local rivalry”, Al Jazeera reported.