Ten civilians, including four women and a child, were killed when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in eastern <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-at-least-5-people-killed-in-badakhshan-landslide-35-went-missing-267851">Afghanistan</a>, officials said Friday.

The explosion happened in the volatile district of Jaghatu in Ghazni province after the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-announces-a-pause-in-peace-talks-with-taliban-after-airbase-attack-267989">US and Taliban</a> paused ongoing talks on Thursday.

"Unfortunately, in the explosion 10 people, including four women and a child, were killed," Ghazni provincial governor spokesman Aref Noori told AFP on Saturday.

All the victims of the blast were civilians, he added, saying six others were wounded.

Marwa Amini, deputy spokeswoman for the interior ministry in Kabul, confirmed the blast and toll.

There was no claim of responsibility for the explosion.

Earlier this week the Taliban launched an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/blast-damages-hospital-near-bagram-airbase-in-afghanistan-267600">attack near Bagram</a>, a major American airbase.

Insurgents often use roadside bombs and landmines to target Afghan security forces, however, the lethal weapons also inflict heavy casualties on civilians.

The explosion comes just hours after Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen said insurgent leaders had held "positive talks" with a US delegation in Doha, adding the two sides planned to restart talks after a few days.

Years of conflict have left Afghanistan strewn with landmines, unexploded mortars, rockets and homemade bombs - and many are picked up by curious children.

Last month, 15 civilians including eight children were killed when their vehicle hit a land mine in northern Kunduz province.

Ten civilians, including four women and a child, were killed when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in eastern Afghanistan, officials said Friday. The explosion happened in the volatile district of Jaghatu in Ghazni province after the US and Taliban paused ongoing talks on Thursday.

Ten civilians, including four women and a child, were killed when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in eastern Afghanistan, officials said Friday. The explosion happened in the volatile district of Jaghatu in Ghazni province after the US and Taliban paused ongoing talks on Thursday. "Unfortunately, in the explosion 10 people, including four women and a child, were killed," Ghazni provincial governor spokesman Aref Noori told AFP on Saturday. All the victims of the blast were civilians, he added, saying six others were wounded. Marwa Amini, deputy spokeswoman for the interior ministry in Kabul, confirmed the blast and toll. There was no claim of responsibility for the explosion. Earlier this week the Taliban launched an attack near Bagram, a major American airbase. Insurgents often use roadside bombs and landmines to target Afghan security forces, however, the lethal weapons also inflict heavy casualties on civilians. The explosion comes just hours after Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen said insurgent leaders had held "positive talks" with a US delegation in Doha, adding the two sides planned to restart talks after a few days. Years of conflict have left Afghanistan strewn with landmines, unexploded mortars, rockets and homemade bombs - and many are picked up by curious children. Last month, 15 civilians including eight children were killed when their vehicle hit a land mine in northern Kunduz province.

Roadside bomb blast kills 10 civilians in eastern Afghanistan

Brig. General Zahirgul Muqbil, an army commander of Afghan border forces was killed in a roadside bomb explosion in Marjah district of Helmand province, the provincial governor`s spokesman Omar Zwak told Tolo News on Saturday morning.

Zwak said three security force members and a local journalist were wounded in the attack.

The forces were heading to a military operation in Marjah district when their humvee hit a roadside bomb, he added.

The Kabul-based local television network, Shamshad TV, confirmed in a tweet that their local reporter Mohammad Sarwari was wounded in the blast.&nbsp;

Brig. General Zahirgul Muqbil, an army commander of Afghan border forces was killed in a roadside bomb explosion in Marjah district of Helmand province, the provincial governor`s spokesman Omar Zwak told Tolo News on Saturday morning.

Brig. General Zahirgul Muqbil, an army commander of Afghan border forces was killed in a roadside bomb explosion in Marjah district of Helmand province, the provincial governor`s spokesman Omar Zwak told Tolo News on Saturday morning. Zwak said three security force members and a local journalist were wounded in the attack. The forces were heading to a military operation in Marjah district when their humvee hit a roadside bomb, he added. The Kabul-based local television network, Shamshad TV, confirmed in a tweet that their local reporter Mohammad Sarwari was wounded in the blast.

Afghanistan: Army commander killed in bomb blast in Helmand

A foreign national was killed and at least five other people wounded in a grenade attack on a United Nations vehicle in Kabul on Sunday, an Afghan official said.

The attack happened on a road frequently used by UN traffic shuttling workers between central Kabul and a large UN compound on the outskirts of the capital.

"At around 6:20 pm (1350 GMT) a grenade was hurled at a UN vehicle," interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said.

Aside from the one fatality, Rahimi said five other people -- including two Afghan staff -- were wounded. The nationalities of the other victims were not released.

A UN official did not immediately return a message seeking comment, and no group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. The Taliban did not respond to a query.

The blast comes during what has been a period of relative and uneasy calm in Kabul, where the rate of large-scale attacks has dropped in recent weeks.

The comparative lull followed a blood-stained presidential campaign season that ended with a general election nearly two months ago.

But Afghans are still waiting for the results of that September 28 poll, with a recount bogged down by various technical difficulties and complaints from main candidates.

Additionally, Afghans are waiting to see what might happen next in negotiations between the Taliban and the US.

President Donald Trump in September ended those yearlong talks as Taliban violence continued, but on Friday he suggested to US broadcaster Fox News that negotiations could be getting underway again.

Aid agencies and non-governmental groups are sometimes targeted in Afghanistan's war.&nbsp;

For instance, the Taliban in May targeted Counterpart International, a US-funded non-profit group working with marginalised people. Nine people were killed in that attack.

But the UN's white vehicles, easily identifiable with the world body's initials painted on the side, are rarely involved in attacks and circulate routinely around Kabul and in the provinces.

In 2011, seven foreign UN workers -- including four Nepalis, a Swede, a Norwegian and a Romanian -- were killed in an attack on a UN compound in the northern city of Mazar-i-Shari 
&nbsp;

A foreign national was killed and at least five other people wounded in a grenade attack on a United Nations vehicle in Kabul on Sunday, an Afghan official said.

A foreign national was killed and at least five other people wounded in a grenade attack on a United Nations vehicle in Kabul on Sunday, an Afghan official said. The attack happened on a road frequently used by UN traffic shuttling workers between central Kabul and a large UN compound on the outskirts of the capital. "At around 6:20 pm (1350 GMT) a grenade was hurled at a UN vehicle," interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said. Aside from the one fatality, Rahimi said five other people -- including two Afghan staff -- were wounded. The nationalities of the other victims were not released. A UN official did not immediately return a message seeking comment, and no group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. The Taliban did not respond to a query. The blast comes during what has been a period of relative and uneasy calm in Kabul, where the rate of large-scale attacks has dropped in recent weeks. The comparative lull followed a blood-stained presidential campaign season that ended with a general election nearly two months ago. But Afghans are still waiting for the results of that September 28 poll, with a recount bogged down by various technical difficulties and complaints from main candidates. Additionally, Afghans are waiting to see what might happen next in negotiations between the Taliban and the US. President Donald Trump in September ended those yearlong talks as Taliban violence continued, but on Friday he suggested to US broadcaster Fox News that negotiations could be getting underway again. Aid agencies and non-governmental groups are sometimes targeted in Afghanistan's war. For instance, the Taliban in May targeted Counterpart International, a US-funded non-profit group working with marginalised people. Nine people were killed in that attack. But the UN's white vehicles, easily identifiable with the world body's initials painted on the side, are rarely involved in attacks and circulate routinely around Kabul and in the provinces. In 2011, seven foreign UN workers -- including four Nepalis, a Swede, a Norwegian and a Romanian -- were killed in an attack on a UN compound in the northern city of Mazar-i-Shari

Afghanistan: Foreign national killed as UN vehicle hit in Kabul blast

At least three people were killed and two members of the security forces suffered injuries in an explosion in Alasai district, Kapisa province.

The provincial police spokesman Abdul Shayiq Shorish confirmed the casualties and said the explosion took place at a market in the district, Tolo News reported.

Meanwhile, one policeman was injured as a magnetic bomb hit a police vehicle in Kabul`s police district nine early on Saturday, a spokesperson of the Afghan Interior Ministry told Sputnik.

"At 8:20 a.m.&nbsp;this morning, a police ranger car was hit by a magnetic mine in the area of the ninth district, Wazir Kala. One of its occupants is ... injured," the ministry spokesperson said.

At least three people were killed and two members of the security forces suffered injuries in an explosion in Alasai district, Kapisa province. The provincial police spokesman Abdul Shayiq Shorish confirmed the casualties and said the explosion took place at a market in the district, Tolo News reported.

At least three people were killed and two members of the security forces suffered injuries in an explosion in Alasai district, Kapisa province. The provincial police spokesman Abdul Shayiq Shorish confirmed the casualties and said the explosion took place at a market in the district, Tolo News reported. Meanwhile, one policeman was injured as a magnetic bomb hit a police vehicle in Kabul`s police district nine early on Saturday, a spokesperson of the Afghan Interior Ministry told Sputnik. "At 8:20 a.m. this morning, a police ranger car was hit by a magnetic mine in the area of the ninth district, Wazir Kala. One of its occupants is ... injured," the ministry spokesperson said.

Two explosions rock Afghanistan, three killed

At least seven people were killed after a car bomb explosion in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-2-killed-4-injured-in-suicide-car-bombing-261050">Afghanistan's capital Kabul</a>, the country's interior ministry said.

Seven people were injured as a result of the blast, the ministry added.

The ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said the bomb went off near the interior ministry&nbsp;and north of Kabul airport.

No group has taken responsibility for the attack.

The blast occurred even as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announced on Tuesday that three Taliban prisoners would be released in a prisoner swap for&nbsp;two Western hostages.

The three Taliban prisoners include Anas Haqqani, who was arrested in 2014.

"We have decided to conditionally release three Taliban prisoners who... have been in Bagram prison in the custody of the Afghan government for some time," Ghani said in an announcement&nbsp;

Last week, an Afghan police officer and a terrorist were killed and four police officers sustained injuries in a suicide car bombing carried out by the Taliban at a military camp in southern Kandahar province.

Another attack had taken place in Afghanistan's Logar province in which four judges were killed.

Afghanistan has seen months of uncertainity even as it&nbsp;prepares to announce the results of the presidential polls which has been delayed for several weeks. The results of elections which had taken place on September 28 was due to be out on October 19 but slow work on data entry and tackling extensive voter fraud has delayed the announcement.&nbsp;

Eighty-five civilians were killed and more than 370 wounded in militant attacks and violence on the day of the election, the United Nations had said last month.

Ghani and Abdullah had both claimed victory before the ballots were tallied.

At least seven people were killed after a car bomb explosion in Afghanistan's capital Kabul, the country's interior ministry said. Seven people were injured as a result of the blast, the ministry added.

At least seven people were killed after a car bomb explosion in Afghanistan's capital Kabul, the country's interior ministry said. Seven people were injured as a result of the blast, the ministry added. The ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said the bomb went off near the interior ministry and north of Kabul airport. No group has taken responsibility for the attack. The blast occurred even as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announced on Tuesday that three Taliban prisoners would be released in a prisoner swap for two Western hostages. The three Taliban prisoners include Anas Haqqani, who was arrested in 2014. "We have decided to conditionally release three Taliban prisoners who... have been in Bagram prison in the custody of the Afghan government for some time," Ghani said in an announcement Last week, an Afghan police officer and a terrorist were killed and four police officers sustained injuries in a suicide car bombing carried out by the Taliban at a military camp in southern Kandahar province. Another attack had taken place in Afghanistan's Logar province in which four judges were killed. Afghanistan has seen months of uncertainity even as it prepares to announce the results of the presidential polls which has been delayed for several weeks. The results of elections which had taken place on September 28 was due to be out on October 19 but slow work on data entry and tackling extensive voter fraud has delayed the announcement. Eighty-five civilians were killed and more than 370 wounded in militant attacks and violence on the day of the election, the United Nations had said last month. Ghani and Abdullah had both claimed victory before the ballots were tallied.

At least seven killed in car bomb blast in Kabul

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - September 18th, 2019

A suicide bomber and gunmen wounded at least nine people, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistans-taliban-tells-teachers-students-to-block-presidential-elections-or-risk-death-250375">including a child and a woman</a>, in an attack on a government building in eastern Afghan on Wednesday, officials said.

The attackers detonated explosives before gunmen poured into the building, said the officials. The office is a distribution centre in the city of Jalalabad for national identity cards, which people need to vote in Afghanistan's presidential election in 10 days.

"Afghan security forces surrounded the building and are clashing with the attackers in a bid to counter the attack," said Sohrab Qaderi, a council member for the city's province of Nangarhar, adding that more casualties are feared with staff and other people stuck in the building.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Watch: Taliban attack kills at least 26 in Afghanistan

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/taliban-attack-kills-at-least-26-in-afghanistan-250309/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Much of Afghanistan is on high alert in the days approaching the election, the country's fourth presidential poll since United States-led forces toppled the hardline Islamist Taliban in 2001. The insurgents have sworn to violently disrupt the vote, which comes in the aftermath of collapsed peace talks between the militants and the United States.

Roughly 9.6 million people, about a third of them women, have registered to vote, but roughly one in twelve polling centres may not open because of security threats.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Taliban warned teachers, students and other education workers to avoid the upcoming presidential vote or risk dying in attacks on election centres.

"Do not allow election organisers to turn your schools and institutions into electoral centres, and teachers and students should not work as electoral staff," said the Taliban statement.

"We do not want to cause the loss of lives and financial losses for civilians, teachers and students," it said.

Schools and universities make up between seven and eight out of every ten polling centres across the country, and though no students, teachers or education officials are being hired as election workers, they can volunteer, said Abdul Aziz Ibrahimi, a spokesman for Afghanistan's election commission.

"We are committed to holding elections on the announced date, and such threats from the Taliban cannot prevent us from holding them," the spokesman said.

A Ministry of Education spokeswoman, Nooria Nazhat, said they had not wanted to use schools and other education centres as polling stations but had been forced to, despite the destruction of schools in parliamentary elections last year.

The United Nations and international donors had asked the ministry to help with the presidential elections because of its relatively developed infrastructure.

On Tuesday, Taliban attackers killed nearly 50 people in separate suicide bombings, one targeting an election rally for incumbent President Ashraf Ghani, who is seeking a second five-year term.

Last week, peace talks between the United States and the Taliban collapsed. The two sides had been seeking to reach an accord on the withdrawal of thousands of American troops from Afghanistan in exchange for security guarantees from the insurgents.

The negotiations, which did not include the Afghan government, were intended as a prelude to wider peace negotiations to end more than more 40 years of war in Afghanistan.

A suicide bomber and gunmen wounded at least nine people, including a child and a woman, in an attack on a government building in eastern Afghan on Wednesday, officials said.

A suicide bomber and gunmen wounded at least nine people, including a child and a woman, in an attack on a government building in eastern Afghan on Wednesday, officials said. The attackers detonated explosives before gunmen poured into the building, said the officials. The office is a distribution centre in the city of Jalalabad for national identity cards, which people need to vote in Afghanistan's presidential election in 10 days. "Afghan security forces surrounded the building and are clashing with the attackers in a bid to counter the attack," said Sohrab Qaderi, a council member for the city's province of Nangarhar, adding that more casualties are feared with staff and other people stuck in the building. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Watch: Taliban attack kills at least 26 in Afghanistan × Much of Afghanistan is on high alert in the days approaching the election, the country's fourth presidential poll since United States-led forces toppled the hardline Islamist Taliban in 2001. The insurgents have sworn to violently disrupt the vote, which comes in the aftermath of collapsed peace talks between the militants and the United States. Roughly 9.6 million people, about a third of them women, have registered to vote, but roughly one in twelve polling centres may not open because of security threats. Earlier on Wednesday, the Taliban warned teachers, students and other education workers to avoid the upcoming presidential vote or risk dying in attacks on election centres. "Do not allow election organisers to turn your schools and institutions into electoral centres, and teachers and students should not work as electoral staff," said the Taliban statement. "We do not want to cause the loss of lives and financial losses for civilians, teachers and students," it said. Schools and universities make up between seven and eight out of every ten polling centres across the country, and though no students, teachers or education officials are being hired as election workers, they can volunteer, said Abdul Aziz Ibrahimi, a spokesman for Afghanistan's election commission. "We are committed to holding elections on the announced date, and such threats from the Taliban cannot prevent us from holding them," the spokesman said. A Ministry of Education spokeswoman, Nooria Nazhat, said they had not wanted to use schools and other education centres as polling stations but had been forced to, despite the destruction of schools in parliamentary elections last year. The United Nations and international donors had asked the ministry to help with the presidential elections because of its relatively developed infrastructure. On Tuesday, Taliban attackers killed nearly 50 people in separate suicide bombings, one targeting an election rally for incumbent President Ashraf Ghani, who is seeking a second five-year term. Last week, peace talks between the United States and the Taliban collapsed. The two sides had been seeking to reach an accord on the withdrawal of thousands of American troops from Afghanistan in exchange for security guarantees from the insurgents. The negotiations, which did not include the Afghan government, were intended as a prelude to wider peace negotiations to end more than more 40 years of war in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan: 9 injured after suicide bomber, gunmen hit government office

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani's election rally was hit by a powerful blast in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bomb-blast-hits-pro-ghani-campaign-gathering-in-central-afghanistan-source-250173">central Parwan province</a> on Tuesday with several people reportedly killed in the attack.

At least 24 people have been killed in the blast with 30 people wounded, reports said. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

President Ghani was about to make a speech when the blast occurred.&nbsp;The Afghan president is safe and unharmed.

Interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said the bomber was on a motorbike and detonated the bomb at the first checkpoint leading to the rally, AFP reported.

Presidential elections are due to take place on September 28 amid fears the Taliban may try to disrupt the polls after the breakdown of peace talks between the Trump administration and the Taliban.

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani's election rally was hit by a powerful blast in central Parwan province on Tuesday with several people reportedly killed in the attack.

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani's election rally was hit by a powerful blast in central Parwan province on Tuesday with several people reportedly killed in the attack. At least 24 people have been killed in the blast with 30 people wounded, reports said. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. President Ghani was about to make a speech when the blast occurred. The Afghan president is safe and unharmed. Interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said the bomber was on a motorbike and detonated the bomb at the first checkpoint leading to the rally, AFP reported. Presidential elections are due to take place on September 28 amid fears the Taliban may try to disrupt the polls after the breakdown of peace talks between the Trump administration and the Taliban.

Afghanistan: At least 24 killed in blast in Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's election rally

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gibraltar-rejects-us-demand-to-seize-iranian-oil-tanker-243889">Gibraltar rejects US demand to seize Iranian oil tanker</a>

Gibraltar on Sunday rejected a US demand to seize an Iranian oil tanker at the centre of a diplomatic dispute as it prepared to leave the British overseas territory after weeks of detention.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-islamic-state-claims-responsibility-for-wedding-suicide-attack-in-kabul-243841">Afghanistan: Islamic state claims responsibility for wedding suicide attack in Kabul</a>

The Islamic State group on Sunday claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a wedding in Kabul which Afghan authorities said killed at least 63 people.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-says-no-plans-to-install-new-missiles-unless-us-deploys-them-243831">Russia says no plans to install new missiles unless US deploys them</a>

Russia will not deploy new missiles as long as the United States shows similar restraint in Europe and Asia, Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said on Sunday, after Washington's withdrawal from a Soviet-era arms pact.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/presence-of-us-and-uk-in-gulf-brings-insecurity-iran-revolutionary-guards-navy-chief-243839">Presence of US and UK in Gulf brings insecurity: Iran Revolutionary Guards navy chief</a>

The presence of America and Britain in the Gulf region brings insecurity, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards navy, Alireza Tangsiri, was reported as saying by the ILNA news agency.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-near-hong-kong-border-say-paramilitary-presence-is-just-in-case-243891">Chinese near Hong Kong border say paramilitary presence is 'just in case'</a>

People in the city of Shenzhen, which borders Hong Kong, said on Sunday (August 18) that they thought China's paramilitary presence in a stadium there would only be called as a last resort.

&nbsp;

Gibraltar rejects US demand to seize Iranian oil tanker Gibraltar on Sunday rejected a US demand to seize an Iranian oil tanker at the centre of a diplomatic dispute as it prepared to leave the British overseas territory after weeks of detention.

Gibraltar rejects US demand to seize Iranian oil tanker Gibraltar on Sunday rejected a US demand to seize an Iranian oil tanker at the centre of a diplomatic dispute as it prepared to leave the British overseas territory after weeks of detention. Afghanistan: Islamic state claims responsibility for wedding suicide attack in Kabul The Islamic State group on Sunday claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a wedding in Kabul which Afghan authorities said killed at least 63 people. Russia says no plans to install new missiles unless US deploys them Russia will not deploy new missiles as long as the United States shows similar restraint in Europe and Asia, Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said on Sunday, after Washington's withdrawal from a Soviet-era arms pact. Presence of US and UK in Gulf brings insecurity: Iran Revolutionary Guards navy chief The presence of America and Britain in the Gulf region brings insecurity, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards navy, Alireza Tangsiri, was reported as saying by the ILNA news agency. Chinese near Hong Kong border say paramilitary presence is 'just in case' People in the city of Shenzhen, which borders Hong Kong, said on Sunday (August 18) that they thought China's paramilitary presence in a stadium there would only be called as a last resort.

News brief: Big stories of the day

A <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-highway-blast-kills-at-least-34-on-bus-injures-17-239655">roadside bomb in western Afghanistan</a> killed at least 35 people travelling on a bus, including children, and injured 27 others, officials said on Wednesday (July 31)

Security has been deteriorating across Afghanistan, with the Taliban and Islamic State fighters mounting near-daily attacks on Afghan forces, government employees and civilians.

A police spokesperson said most of the dead or injured in the blast, on the highway linking the provincial capitals of Herat and Kandahar, were women and children.

A Taliban official said their fighters were not responsible for planting landmines in the area. So far, no militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Wednesday's blast came ahead of US&nbsp;officials and Taliban representatives resuming peace talks to agree on a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign forces in exchange for security guarantees by the Taliban.

A roadside bomb in western Afghanistan killed at least 35 people travelling on a bus, including children, and injured 27 others, officials said on Wednesday (July 31) Security has been deteriorating across Afghanistan, with the Taliban and Islamic State fighters mounting near-daily attacks on Afghan forces, government employees and civilians.

A roadside bomb in western Afghanistan killed at least 35 people travelling on a bus, including children, and injured 27 others, officials said on Wednesday (July 31) Security has been deteriorating across Afghanistan, with the Taliban and Islamic State fighters mounting near-daily attacks on Afghan forces, government employees and civilians. A police spokesperson said most of the dead or injured in the blast, on the highway linking the provincial capitals of Herat and Kandahar, were women and children. A Taliban official said their fighters were not responsible for planting landmines in the area. So far, no militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Wednesday's blast came ahead of US officials and Taliban representatives resuming peace talks to agree on a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign forces in exchange for security guarantees by the Taliban.

Afghanistan highway blast kills at least 35 on bus, injures 27

One person was killed and 17 others wounded Sunday in three successive blasts in Kabul, Afghan officials said, capping a murderous week of mayhem across the city.

Among the wounded was an Afghan journalist who appeared to have been live-streaming the aftermath of the first explosion when a second bomb went off.

The events started with the detonation of a sticky bomb -- a growing menace in Kabul, where insurgents and criminals slap magnetic bombs on the underside of vehicles.

The charge had been placed under a bus carrying officials headed to the Kabul Education University, interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said.

In the immediate aftermath, two more bombs that had been planted by the side of the road went off, he added.

"In total, one Afghan civilian was martyred and 17 others, including a local journalist and five Afghan forces, have been slightly wounded," Rahimi said. Health ministry spokesman Wahidullah Mayar confirmed the toll.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but both the Taliban and the Islamic State group have carried out recent blasts.

According to a video circulating on social media, the journalist was hit in the leg by the second bomb.

Last year, nine journalists including AFP Kabul's chief photographer Shah Marai were killed in a secondary explosion after rushing to the scene of an initial blast. Even though the Taliban and the

US are set to begin a new round of peace talks in Doha this month, violence across Afghanistan continues unabated, with civilians often bearing the brunt of the bloodshed.

On Friday, a Taliban car bomber killed at least four Afghan civilians and lightly wounded four US troops in an attack on a US convoy in Kabul.

A day earlier, at least six people were killed and 16 more wounded in an IS-claimed suicide blast outside a military academy in the capital.

And eight Afghan police were killed Saturday and seven others wounded in a suicide attack in the eastern Ghazni city, provincial police spokesman Ahmad Khan Seera told AFP.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had proposed a nationwide ceasefire at the start of Ramadan early last month, but the Taliban rejected the offer.

Last year, the Taliban observed a three-day ceasefire over Eid and many Afghans -- exhausted by decades of war and violence -- had pinned their hopes on another truce this year.

Taliban head Haibatullah Akhundzada said Saturday there would be no "cold water" poured on the insurgents' military efforts.

One person was killed and 17 others wounded Sunday in three successive blasts in Kabul, Afghan officials said, capping a murderous week of mayhem across the city.

One person was killed and 17 others wounded Sunday in three successive blasts in Kabul, Afghan officials said, capping a murderous week of mayhem across the city. Among the wounded was an Afghan journalist who appeared to have been live-streaming the aftermath of the first explosion when a second bomb went off. The events started with the detonation of a sticky bomb -- a growing menace in Kabul, where insurgents and criminals slap magnetic bombs on the underside of vehicles. The charge had been placed under a bus carrying officials headed to the Kabul Education University, interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said. In the immediate aftermath, two more bombs that had been planted by the side of the road went off, he added. "In total, one Afghan civilian was martyred and 17 others, including a local journalist and five Afghan forces, have been slightly wounded," Rahimi said. Health ministry spokesman Wahidullah Mayar confirmed the toll. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but both the Taliban and the Islamic State group have carried out recent blasts. According to a video circulating on social media, the journalist was hit in the leg by the second bomb. Last year, nine journalists including AFP Kabul's chief photographer Shah Marai were killed in a secondary explosion after rushing to the scene of an initial blast. Even though the Taliban and the US are set to begin a new round of peace talks in Doha this month, violence across Afghanistan continues unabated, with civilians often bearing the brunt of the bloodshed. On Friday, a Taliban car bomber killed at least four Afghan civilians and lightly wounded four US troops in an attack on a US convoy in Kabul. A day earlier, at least six people were killed and 16 more wounded in an IS-claimed suicide blast outside a military academy in the capital. And eight Afghan police were killed Saturday and seven others wounded in a suicide attack in the eastern Ghazni city, provincial police spokesman Ahmad Khan Seera told AFP. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had proposed a nationwide ceasefire at the start of Ramadan early last month, but the Taliban rejected the offer. Last year, the Taliban observed a three-day ceasefire over Eid and many Afghans -- exhausted by decades of war and violence -- had pinned their hopes on another truce this year. Taliban head Haibatullah Akhundzada said Saturday there would be no "cold water" poured on the insurgents' military efforts.

Afghanistan: Three blasts hit Kabul, killing one and injuring 17

At least two people, including a child, were killed and 14 others sustained injuries in a roadside bomb blast in Afghanistan's Herat province on Saturday morning.

The incident occurred in the Oba district of the province, reported Tolo News.

There is no information yet about the nature of the blast.

No group, including the Taliban, has claimed the responsibility for the attack yet.

According to figures released by the United Nations, nearly 1700 civilians have been killed and over 3,430 others injured in conflict-related incidents so far this year in the war-torn country, reported Xinhua.

In a separate development, the Afghan security forces rescued five doctors from the kidnappers in the same province.

One kidnapper was killed and another was wounded during the rescue operation, provincial police chief General Aminullah Amarkhail said on Saturday.

At least two people, including a child, were killed and 14 others sustained injuries in a roadside bomb blast in Afghanistan's Herat province on Saturday morning.

At least two people, including a child, were killed and 14 others sustained injuries in a roadside bomb blast in Afghanistan's Herat province on Saturday morning. The incident occurred in the Oba district of the province, reported Tolo News. There is no information yet about the nature of the blast. No group, including the Taliban, has claimed the responsibility for the attack yet. According to figures released by the United Nations, nearly 1700 civilians have been killed and over 3,430 others injured in conflict-related incidents so far this year in the war-torn country, reported Xinhua. In a separate development, the Afghan security forces rescued five doctors from the kidnappers in the same province. One kidnapper was killed and another was wounded during the rescue operation, provincial police chief General Aminullah Amarkhail said on Saturday.

At least two dead after roadside blast in Afghanistan's Herat province

Three American soldiers and a US contractor were killed when their convoy hit a roadside bomb on Monday near the main US base in Afghanistan. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

4 Americans die in roadside Afghanistan blast, Taliban claims responsiblity

An Afghan election candidate was allegedly killed on Wednesday in a blast in his office in the southern province of Helmand, reported news agency Reuters quoting officials.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility. &nbsp;

Abdul Jabar Qahraman, who was preparing to contest Saturday's parliamentary polls was killed in the blast, a senior government official said.

Eight people were injured, another government official added.

An Afghan election candidate was allegedly killed on Wednesday in a blast in his office in the southern province of Helmand, reported news agency Reuters quoting officials.

An Afghan election candidate was allegedly killed on Wednesday in a blast in his office in the southern province of Helmand, reported news agency Reuters quoting officials. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Abdul Jabar Qahraman, who was preparing to contest Saturday's parliamentary polls was killed in the blast, a senior government official said. Eight people were injured, another government official added.

Afghanistan blast kills election candidate in southern province

At least one person was killed on Saturday after a bomb exploded in the eastern part of Afghanistan's Kabul City.

The explosion also injured two archaeologists and one driver.

The incident occurred in Benisar area&nbspof the eastern part of Kabul city.

The injured were immediately rushed to the hospital.

The archaeologists were attacked in their vehicle&nbspon their way to Afghan's Logar province.&nbsp

No individual or group has taken the responsibility for the incident till now.

(With inputs from ANI)

The incident occurred in Benisar area of the eastern part of Kabul city

At least one person was killed on Saturday after a bomb exploded in the eastern part of Afghanistan's Kabul City. The explosion also injured two archaeologists and one driver. The incident occurred in Benisar area&nbspof the eastern part of Kabul city. The injured were immediately rushed to the hospital. The archaeologists were attacked in their vehicle&nbspon their way to Afghan's Logar province. No individual or group has taken the responsibility for the incident till now. (With inputs from ANI)

1 killed, 3 injured in Kabul blast

Islamic&nbspState&nbspclaimed&nbspresponsibility&nbspon Wednesday for an attack on a police compound in the Afghan capital Kabul, a&nbspnews agency reported.

It said the attack occurred in Kabul's Dasht-e-Barchi district but gave no details on any casualties.

The news agency reported that the attack occurred in Kabul's Dasht-e-Barchi district but gave no details on any casualties

Islamic&nbspState&nbspclaimed&nbspresponsibility&nbspon Wednesday for an attack on a police compound in the Afghan capital Kabul, a&nbspnews agency reported. It said the attack occurred in Kabul's Dasht-e-Barchi district but gave no details on any casualties.

Islamic state claims responsibility for Afghan capital attack: Agency

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/seven-indian-engineers-kidnapped-in-afghanistan-police-134950">Seven Indian engineers kidnapped in Afghanistan: Police</a>

Seven Indian engineers and an Afghan national working for a power plant in northern Baghlan province of Afghanistan were kidnapped on Sunday, news agency Reuters reported quoting officials.&nbsp

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/blast-at-mosque-in-eastern-afghanistan-kills-13-official-134952">Blast at </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/blast-at-mosque-in-eastern-afghanistan-kills-13-official-134952">mosque</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/blast-at-mosque-in-eastern-afghanistan-kills-13-official-134952"> in eastern Afghanistan kills 13: Official</a>

An explosion at a mosque in the eastern Afghan province of Khost on Sunday killed at least 13&nbsppeople and wounded 31, news agency Reuters reported quoting a local police official.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/french-president-emmanuel-macron-warns-of-risk-of-war-if-trump-withdraws-from-iran-deal-134967">French President warns of risk of war if Donald Trump withdraws from Iran deal</a>

French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that war could ensue if US&nbspPresident Donald Trump withdraws from the 2015 deal in which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/clashes-breaks-out-in-jk-following-terrorist-encounter-5-civilians-killed-134954">5 civilians killed in clashes following </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/clashes-breaks-out-in-jk-following-terrorist-encounter-5-civilians-killed-134954">terrorist</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/clashes-breaks-out-in-jk-following-terrorist-encounter-5-civilians-killed-134954"> encounter</a>

Five civilians were killed in the clashes that broke out between civilians and security forces on Sunday in parts of Jammu and Kashmir&nbsp<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/encounter-between-security-forces-terrorists-in-jks-shopian-134867">following the encounter of five terrorists</a>.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/uk-watchdog-orders-cambridge-analytica-to-hand-over-americans-personal-data-134968">UK watchdog orders Cambridge Analytica to hand over American's personal data</a>

Britain's data privacy watchdog has ordered Cambridge Analytica to hand over all the personal information it holds on a US academic, confirming the right of people abroad to seek data held by a UK firm.

&nbsp

Seven Indian engineers kidnapped in Afghanistan: Police Seven Indian engineers and an Afghan national working for a power plant in northern Baghlan province of Afghanistan were kidnapped on Sunday, news agency Reuters reported quoting officials. Blast at mosque in eastern Afghanistan kills 13: Official An explosion at a mosque in the eastern Afghan province of Khost on Sunday killed at least 13&nbsppeople and wounded 31, news agency Reuters reported quoting a local police official. French President warns of risk of war if Donald Trump withdraws from Iran deal French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that war could ensue if US&nbspPresident Donald Trump withdraws from the 2015 deal in which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. 5 civilians killed in clashes following terrorist encounter Five civilians were killed in the clashes that broke out between civilians and security forces on Sunday in parts of Jammu and Kashmir following the encounter of five terrorists. UK watchdog orders Cambridge Analytica to hand over American's personal data Britain's data privacy watchdog has ordered Cambridge Analytica to hand over all the personal information it holds on a US academic, confirming the right of people abroad to seek data held by a UK firm.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cbi-questions-rotomac-owner-vikram-kothari-freezes-14-bank-accounts-33505" target="_blank">CBI questions Rotomac owner Vikram </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cbi-questions-rotomac-owner-vikram-kothari-freezes-14-bank-accounts-33505" target="_blank">Kothari,</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cbi-questions-rotomac-owner-vikram-kothari-freezes-14-bank-accounts-33505" target="_blank"> freezes 14 bank accounts</a>

The Income&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cbi-registers-case-against-rotomac-directors-for-cheating-seven-banks-33364">Tax Department has attached 14 bank</a>&nbsp;accounts of Rotomac which belong to various banks&nbsp;as the CBI grilled the owner Vikram Kothari today. Reports said three accounts belong to Vikram Kothari and his family.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-stock-exchange-approves-chinas-bid-rejects-india-33511" target="_blank">Bangladesh stock exchange approves China&#39;s bid, rejects India</a>

China has emerged<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/now-india-china-battle-in-bangladesh-stock-exchange-32913">&nbsp;as the winner against India in the</a>&nbsp;battle for supremacy in the Bangladesh stock exchange. After reports of<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/want-to-deepen-ties-with-china-to-gain-greater-leverage-with-india-nepals-oli-33440">&nbsp;India and China putting up bids in the&nbsp;</a>Bangladesh stock exchange took everyone by surprise, an official told AFP that Bangladesh has agreed to sell a large stake to a Chinese consortium, disregarding India&#39;s bid.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/breakdown-of-governance-say-ias-officers-after-delhi-chief-secretary-alleges-assault-by-aap-mlas-33465" target="_blank">&#39;Breakdown of governance,&#39; say IAS officers after Delhi Chief Secretary alleges assault by AAP MLAs</a>

A massive political firestorm erupted over Delhi Tuesday after the chief secretary alleged that he had been assaulted by AAP MLAs at the chief minister&#39;s residence.&nbsp;The Aam Aadmi Party has called Anshu Prakash&#39;s allegation &quot;ludicrous&quot;, adding that he was acting on the BJP&#39;s behest.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/three-killed-in-blast-in-afghan-city-jalalabad-33494">Three killed in blast in Afghan city Jalalabad</a>

&nbsp;An explosion killed at least three tribal elders and wounded two when it hit a hotel in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad on Tuesday, officials said. The cause of the blast was not immediately clear and there was no immediate claim of responsibility.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-will-lay-siege-to-syrias-afrin-in-coming-days-erdogan-33487" target="_blank">Turkey will lay siege to Syria&#39;s Afrin in coming days: Erdogan</a>

Turkey will lay siege to Afrin in northern Syria after launching an offensive against Kurdish militia in the region last month, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.

CBI questions Rotomac owner Vikram Kothari, freezes 14 bank accounts The Income Tax Department has attached 14 bank accounts of Rotomac which belong to various banks as the CBI grilled the owner Vikram Kothari today. Reports said three accounts belong to Vikram Kothari and his family. Bangladesh stock exchange approves China's bid, rejects India China has emerged as the winner against India in the battle for supremacy in the Bangladesh stock exchange. After reports of India and China putting up bids in the Bangladesh stock exchange took everyone by surprise, an official told AFP that Bangladesh has agreed to sell a large stake to a Chinese consortium, disregarding India's bid. 'Breakdown of governance,' say IAS officers after Delhi Chief Secretary alleges assault by AAP MLAs A massive political firestorm erupted over Delhi Tuesday after the chief secretary alleged that he had been assaulted by AAP MLAs at the chief minister's residence. The Aam Aadmi Party has called Anshu Prakash's allegation "ludicrous", adding that he was acting on the BJP's behest. Three killed in blast in Afghan city Jalalabad An explosion killed at least three tribal elders and wounded two when it hit a hotel in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad on Tuesday, officials said. The cause of the blast was not immediately clear and there was no immediate claim of responsibility. Turkey will lay siege to Syria's Afrin in coming days: Erdogan Turkey will lay siege to Afrin in northern Syria after launching an offensive against Kurdish militia in the region last month, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.

WION Evening News brief, February 20, 2018

&nbsp;An explosion killed at least three tribal elders and wounded two when it hit a hotel in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad on Tuesday, officials said.

The cause of the blast was not immediately clear and there was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said the explosion went off on the second floor of a hotel where tribal elders were staying. The elders were in Jalalabad for a meeting about a new electronic identity cards being introduced by the central government.

Jalalabad is capital of Nangarhar province, on the border with Pakistan, where an affiliate of Islamic State has established a stronghold in recent years.

The movement has claimed several attacks in Jalalabad, most recently last month when it targeted an office of the Save the Children aid group in the city.

The cause of the blast was not immediately clear and there was no immediate claim of responsibility

An explosion killed at least three tribal elders and wounded two when it hit a hotel in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad on Tuesday, officials said. The cause of the blast was not immediately clear and there was no immediate claim of responsibility. Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said the explosion went off on the second floor of a hotel where tribal elders were staying. The elders were in Jalalabad for a meeting about a new electronic identity cards being introduced by the central government. Jalalabad is capital of Nangarhar province, on the border with Pakistan, where an affiliate of Islamic State has established a stronghold in recent years. The movement has claimed several attacks in Jalalabad, most recently last month when it targeted an office of the Save the Children aid group in the city.

Three killed in blast in Afghan city Jalalabad

A suicide bomber and a gunman killed at least 29 people and wounded 63 at a packed Shiite mosque in&nbsp;Afghanistan&#39;s main western city of Herat Tuesday, the latest attack to highlight the country&#39;s deteriorating security situation.

The assault on the Jawadya mosque in Herat, which is close to&nbsp;Afghanistan&#39;s border with Iran, came a day after the Islamic State group claimed a deadly attack on the Iraqi embassy in Kabul.

The Herat attack was the latest in a series of assaults on&nbsp;Afghanistan&#39;s minority Shiite population.

&quot;The death toll has risen to 29 killed and 63 wounded. Some wounded are in a critical condition so the toll may go up,&quot; hospital spokesman Rafeeq Shirzai told AFP.

Herat police spokesman Abdul Ahad Walizada said the assault happened around 8:00 pm (1530 GMT) when &quot;a terrorist attack was carried out on a (Shiite) mosque in the third security district of Herat city&quot;.

&quot;Based on our initial information two terrorists were involved, one of them wearing a suicide vest who detonated himself&nbsp;while the second one was armed with a rifle. They are both dead,&quot; he added.

A reporter for AFP said he had seen a number of bodies brought out of the mosque, leading to fears of a heavy death toll.

He reported seeing a body torn to pieces at the entrance, possibly that of the attacker, while others were lying in pools of blood inside, some still crying and moving.

Photos posted on social media showed large crowds had gathered at the hospital.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but IS has been targeting Shiite minority crowds and mosques in&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;for around a year. The Taliban specifically denied that it was involved.

&nbsp;&#39;Anti-Islam act&#39;&nbsp;

The attack comes a day after an assault on the Iraqi embassy in Kabul, which was claimed by the Islamic State group (IS), killed two people.

IS has been expanding its footprint in eastern&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;and has recently claimed responsibility for several devastating attacks in the capital.

But experts have previously questioned whether there are direct links between the group&#39;s local affiliate Islamic State Khorasan Province (IS-K) and the central IS command.

On Monday a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the embassy, allowing at least three other militants to breach the compound, unleashing an hours-long gun battle that killed two people.

A security source, who declined to be named, said IS could prove to be more dangerous than the Taliban in&nbsp;Afghanistan.

Unlike the Taliban which has friends and foes among the international community, IS considers everyone their enemy and will keep attacking soft targets, he said.

Shiites, of which there are around three million in&nbsp;Afghanistan, have regularly been targeted in recent years.

In June, IS claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a crowded Shiite mosque in Kabul which killed four people.

November last year saw a massive suicide blast kill at least 27 people and wound 64 at a Shiite mosque, again in the Afghan capital.&nbsp;

In July 2016 IS jihadists claimed responsibility for twin explosions that ripped through crowds of Shiite Hazaras in Kabul, killing at least 85 people and wounding more than 400.

Afghanistan&#39;s national unity government said it strongly condemned the Herat attack, describing it in a statement as an &quot;anti-Islam act&quot;.

It also called &quot;on the Muslim people of&nbsp;Afghanistan, as well as on the religious scholars, to stand united against the barbaric actions of the terrorists&quot;.

President Ashraf Ghani added that &quot;terrorists cannot create sectarian divisions among our people&quot;.&nbsp;

63 people were wounded in the attack that took place on Tuesday night

A suicide bomber and a gunman killed at least 29 people and wounded 63 at a packed Shiite mosque in Afghanistan's main western city of Herat Tuesday, the latest attack to highlight the country's deteriorating security situation. The assault on the Jawadya mosque in Herat, which is close to Afghanistan's border with Iran, came a day after the Islamic State group claimed a deadly attack on the Iraqi embassy in Kabul. The Herat attack was the latest in a series of assaults on Afghanistan's minority Shiite population. "The death toll has risen to 29 killed and 63 wounded. Some wounded are in a critical condition so the toll may go up," hospital spokesman Rafeeq Shirzai told AFP. Herat police spokesman Abdul Ahad Walizada said the assault happened around 8:00 pm (1530 GMT) when "a terrorist attack was carried out on a (Shiite) mosque in the third security district of Herat city". "Based on our initial information two terrorists were involved, one of them wearing a suicide vest who detonated himself while the second one was armed with a rifle. They are both dead," he added. A reporter for AFP said he had seen a number of bodies brought out of the mosque, leading to fears of a heavy death toll. He reported seeing a body torn to pieces at the entrance, possibly that of the attacker, while others were lying in pools of blood inside, some still crying and moving. Photos posted on social media showed large crowds had gathered at the hospital. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but IS has been targeting Shiite minority crowds and mosques in Afghanistan for around a year. The Taliban specifically denied that it was involved. 'Anti-Islam act' The attack comes a day after an assault on the Iraqi embassy in Kabul, which was claimed by the Islamic State group (IS), killed two people. IS has been expanding its footprint in eastern Afghanistan and has recently claimed responsibility for several devastating attacks in the capital. But experts have previously questioned whether there are direct links between the group's local affiliate Islamic State Khorasan Province (IS-K) and the central IS command. On Monday a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the embassy, allowing at least three other militants to breach the compound, unleashing an hours-long gun battle that killed two people. A security source, who declined to be named, said IS could prove to be more dangerous than the Taliban in Afghanistan. Unlike the Taliban which has friends and foes among the international community, IS considers everyone their enemy and will keep attacking soft targets, he said. Shiites, of which there are around three million in Afghanistan, have regularly been targeted in recent years. In June, IS claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a crowded Shiite mosque in Kabul which killed four people. November last year saw a massive suicide blast kill at least 27 people and wound 64 at a Shiite mosque, again in the Afghan capital. In July 2016 IS jihadists claimed responsibility for twin explosions that ripped through crowds of Shiite Hazaras in Kabul, killing at least 85 people and wounding more than 400. Afghanistan's national unity government said it strongly condemned the Herat attack, describing it in a statement as an "anti-Islam act". It also called "on the Muslim people of Afghanistan, as well as on the religious scholars, to stand united against the barbaric actions of the terrorists". President Ashraf Ghani added that "terrorists cannot create sectarian divisions among our people".

Afghanistan: Suicide bomber, gunman kill at least 29 in Herat Shiite mosque

An explosion in the western part of Afghanistan has killed seven civilians and has injured another 16, CNN reports.

A spokesman for Herat&#39;s governor, Jilani Farhad, said the blast took place at about 3 pm local time, near the northern gate of the Great Mosque of Herat, CNN reports.

Farhad told CNN&nbsp;an investigation is still underway.

Reuters cites officials who say that explosives were believed to be hidden in a motorcycle left in a parking area outside the Jama Masjid, a large 12th century mosque known for intricate blue tiles. Near the border with Iran, Herat is one of Afghanistan&#39;s largest cities.

This is the latest attack in Afghanistan in what has been a . On Wednesday, a suicide truck-bomb attack killed 150 people and wounded hundreds more.

(WION)

The blast took place at about 3 pm local time, near the northern gate of the Great Mosque of Herat, said the governor's spokesman

An explosion in the western part of Afghanistan has killed seven civilians and has injured another 16, CNN reports. A spokesman for Herat's governor, Jilani Farhad, said the blast took place at about 3 pm local time, near the northern gate of the Great Mosque of Herat, CNN reports. Farhad told CNN an investigation is still underway. Reuters cites officials who say that explosives were believed to be hidden in a motorcycle left in a parking area outside the Jama Masjid, a large 12th century mosque known for intricate blue tiles. Near the border with Iran, Herat is one of Afghanistan's largest cities. This is the latest attack in Afghanistan in what has been a . On Wednesday, a suicide truck-bomb attack killed 150 people and wounded hundreds more. (WION)

Explosion in western Afghanistan kills 7, injures 16: CNN

Afghanistan has blamed the Pakistan intelligence agency ISI for being&nbsp;involved in the blast in Kabul that claimed the lives of 90 people and injured hundreds&nbsp;of others.

Afghanistan president&#39;s spokesperson Nazibullah Azad told WION that the Pakistan-based Haqqani network was behind the attack.

In addition, Afghanistan&#39;s intelligence agency blamed the Taliban-allied Haqqani Network for the attack.

Former US intel officer Glenn Carle also blamed Pakistan for the attack.

Watch what Carle had to tell WION:

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-QiXAlZ7SdE" width="560"></iframe>

A massive truck bomb ripped through Kabul&#39;s diplomatic quarter, bringing carnage to the streets of the Afghan capital just days into the holy fasting month of Ramzan. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.

The bomb, one of the deadliest in Kabul and coming at the start of the holy month of Ramadan, exploded close to the fortified entrance to the German embassy, wounding some staff, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said.&nbsp;

One Afghan security guard was killed and others were likely among the dead, Gabriel said. A spokeswoman for the German foreign ministry said the bomber&#39;s target was unknown.

Embassies damaged&nbsp;

The sound of the bomb, which went off near Kabul&#39;s busy Zanbaq Square, reverberated across the Afghan capital, with residents comparing it to an earthquake. Most victims appear to be civilians.

&quot;The vigilance and courage of Afghan security forces prevented the VBIED (vehicle-borne improvised explosive device) from gaining entry to the Green Zone, but the explosion caused civilian casualties,&quot; NATO said in a statement.

The explosion damaged several embassies in the area, which houses diplomatic and government buildings and is a maze of concrete blast walls, vehicle barriers and armed security guards.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said the &quot;despicable&quot; attack killed an Afghan guard from the German embassy, and added that some employees had been injured, though he did not give further details.

He said the bomb had gone off &quot;in the immediate vicinity&quot; of the German embassy.&nbsp;

France, India, Turkey, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and Bulgaria similarly reported damage to their embassies, including shattered windows, as the blast drew an avalanche of international condemnation.&nbsp;

The White House issued a scathing statement condemning the &quot;atrocious&quot; attack.

&quot;That this attack would occur during the holy month of Ramadan underscores the senseless and barbaric nature of this attack,&quot; a White House spokesman said.

Amnesty International said the bombing shows that the conflict in Afghanistan is &quot;dangerously widening in a way that should&nbsp;alarm the international community&quot;.

Germany was forced to postpone a scheduled deportation flight of rejected Afghan asylum-seekers in the wake of the attack. The European nation has drawn criticism for sending back Afghans to an increasingly dangerous country.

Wednesday&#39;s blast was the latest in a string of attacks in Kabul. The province surrounding the capital had the highest number of casualties in the country in the first three months of 2017 due to multiple attacks in the city, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence.

Afghan troops are backed by US and NATO forces, and the White House is considering sending thousands more soldiers to break the deadlock in the battle against the Taliban.

US troops in Afghanistan number about 8,400 now, and there are another 5,000 from NATO allies. They mainly serve in an advisory capacity -- a far cry from the US presence of more than 100,000 six years ago.

Barbaric attack: Trump

US President Donald Trump spoke with his Afghan counterpart Ashraf Ghani and condemned the terror attack in Kabul, describing it as &quot;barbaric&quot;.

He condemned the attack, which occurred during the holy month of Ramadan, underscoring the barbaric nature of the terrorists who are enemies of all civilised peoples,&quot; the White House said in a readout of the telephonic conversation between the two leaders.

Conveying condolences to the families and friends of those killed and injured in the blast, Trump commended the bravery of the first responders, who worked quickly to support the wounded.

&quot;He also commended Afghan security forces for their steadfast efforts to defend their people from enemies who would seek to deny them the security and prosperity,&quot; the White House said.

(WION with inputs from agencies)

Though security agencies have blamed Pakistan, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack that has left 90 people dead

Afghanistan has blamed the Pakistan intelligence agency ISI for being involved in the blast in Kabul that claimed the lives of 90 people and injured hundreds of others. Afghanistan president's spokesperson Nazibullah Azad told WION that the Pakistan-based Haqqani network was behind the attack. In addition, Afghanistan's intelligence agency blamed the Taliban-allied Haqqani Network for the attack. Former US intel officer Glenn Carle also blamed Pakistan for the attack. Watch what Carle had to tell WION: A massive truck bomb ripped through Kabul's diplomatic quarter, bringing carnage to the streets of the Afghan capital just days into the holy fasting month of Ramzan. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. The bomb, one of the deadliest in Kabul and coming at the start of the holy month of Ramadan, exploded close to the fortified entrance to the German embassy, wounding some staff, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said. One Afghan security guard was killed and others were likely among the dead, Gabriel said. A spokeswoman for the German foreign ministry said the bomber's target was unknown. Embassies damaged The sound of the bomb, which went off near Kabul's busy Zanbaq Square, reverberated across the Afghan capital, with residents comparing it to an earthquake. Most victims appear to be civilians. "The vigilance and courage of Afghan security forces prevented the VBIED (vehicle-borne improvised explosive device) from gaining entry to the Green Zone, but the explosion caused civilian casualties," NATO said in a statement. The explosion damaged several embassies in the area, which houses diplomatic and government buildings and is a maze of concrete blast walls, vehicle barriers and armed security guards. German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said the "despicable" attack killed an Afghan guard from the German embassy, and added that some employees had been injured, though he did not give further details. He said the bomb had gone off "in the immediate vicinity" of the German embassy. France, India, Turkey, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and Bulgaria similarly reported damage to their embassies, including shattered windows, as the blast drew an avalanche of international condemnation. The White House issued a scathing statement condemning the "atrocious" attack. "That this attack would occur during the holy month of Ramadan underscores the senseless and barbaric nature of this attack," a White House spokesman said. Amnesty International said the bombing shows that the conflict in Afghanistan is "dangerously widening in a way that should alarm the international community". Germany was forced to postpone a scheduled deportation flight of rejected Afghan asylum-seekers in the wake of the attack. The European nation has drawn criticism for sending back Afghans to an increasingly dangerous country. Wednesday's blast was the latest in a string of attacks in Kabul. The province surrounding the capital had the highest number of casualties in the country in the first three months of 2017 due to multiple attacks in the city, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence. Afghan troops are backed by US and NATO forces, and the White House is considering sending thousands more soldiers to break the deadlock in the battle against the Taliban. US troops in Afghanistan number about 8,400 now, and there are another 5,000 from NATO allies. They mainly serve in an advisory capacity -- a far cry from the US presence of more than 100,000 six years ago. Barbaric attack: Trump US President Donald Trump spoke with his Afghan counterpart Ashraf Ghani and condemned the terror attack in Kabul, describing it as "barbaric". He condemned the attack, which occurred during the holy month of Ramadan, underscoring the barbaric nature of the terrorists who are enemies of all civilised peoples," the White House said in a readout of the telephonic conversation between the two leaders. Conveying condolences to the families and friends of those killed and injured in the blast, Trump commended the bravery of the first responders, who worked quickly to support the wounded. "He also commended Afghan security forces for their steadfast efforts to defend their people from enemies who would seek to deny them the security and prosperity," the White House said. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Trump condemns Kabul blast as Afghanistan blames Pakistan-backed Haqqani network

A suicide car bomber rammed into a bus carrying employees of one of Afghanistan&#39;s biggest telecom companies during rush hour Monday, just days after a deadly insurgent assault on the country&#39;s largest military hospital.

At least one woman was killed and 19 others wounded in the powerful blast, which left the Roshan Telecom bus badly mangled and the area littered with smouldering debris and twisted metal.&nbsp;

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the assault, but it comes as the Taliban step up attacks even before the official start of the annual spring offensive.

&quot;Kabul Police have arrested three suspects related to an explosion in which 19 civilians, including four women, were wounded and one woman was killed,&quot; interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said on Twitter.

A Roshan official confirmed to AFP that a number of employees were wounded in the attack, but declined to say whether their vehicle was the intended target.

Security officials cordoned off the area as firefighters and ambulances rushed to the scene as clouds of smoke filled the air.

The bombing comes after gunmen disguised as doctors stormed Sardar Daud Khan hospital in Kabul last Wednesday, with insiders including two interns among the attackers, multiple surviving staff and security sources told AFP.

The defence ministry insists only around 30 people were killed by five attackers. But security sources and the survivors, some of whom counted dead bodies, said the death toll exceeded 100.

The carnage inside the heavily guarded hospital points at a spectacular intelligence failure and spotlights how insurgents have managed to infiltrate top government and military institutions in Afghanistan.

The savagery of the assault was characterised by how the assailants stabbed bed-ridden patients, threw grenades into crowded wards and shot people from point-blank range.

The Islamic State group claimed it was behind the attack via its propaganda agency Amaq -- hours after the Taliban denied responsibility.

But the survivors AFP spoke to said the attackers chanted &quot;Allahu Akbar&quot; (God is great) and &quot;Long live Taliban&quot; in Pashto.

The Afghan defence ministry said a government commission had been set up to investigate the attack.

The violence underscores rising insecurity in Afghanistan. The country is bracing for an intense fighting season in the spring as the government`s repeated bids to launch peace negotiations with the Taliban have failed.

Afghan forces, already beset by record casualties, desertions and non-existent &quot;ghost soldiers&quot; on the payroll, have been struggling to beat back insurgents since US-led NATO troops ended their combat mission in December 2014.

Kabul last month endorsed US General John Nicholson&#39;s call for thousands of additional coalition troops to hold off the militants before the spring offensive.

Extra troops were needed to end the stalemate in the war, Nicholson, the top American commander in Afghanistan, told the US Congress in what could be President Donald Trump`s first major test of military strategy. 
 
(AFP)

 
&nbsp;

One person died and 19 were wounded, but no group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack

A suicide car bomber rammed into a bus carrying employees of one of Afghanistan's biggest telecom companies during rush hour Monday, just days after a deadly insurgent assault on the country's largest military hospital. At least one woman was killed and 19 others wounded in the powerful blast, which left the Roshan Telecom bus badly mangled and the area littered with smouldering debris and twisted metal. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the assault, but it comes as the Taliban step up attacks even before the official start of the annual spring offensive. "Kabul Police have arrested three suspects related to an explosion in which 19 civilians, including four women, were wounded and one woman was killed," interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said on Twitter. A Roshan official confirmed to AFP that a number of employees were wounded in the attack, but declined to say whether their vehicle was the intended target. Security officials cordoned off the area as firefighters and ambulances rushed to the scene as clouds of smoke filled the air. The bombing comes after gunmen disguised as doctors stormed Sardar Daud Khan hospital in Kabul last Wednesday, with insiders including two interns among the attackers, multiple surviving staff and security sources told AFP. The defence ministry insists only around 30 people were killed by five attackers. But security sources and the survivors, some of whom counted dead bodies, said the death toll exceeded 100. The carnage inside the heavily guarded hospital points at a spectacular intelligence failure and spotlights how insurgents have managed to infiltrate top government and military institutions in Afghanistan. The savagery of the assault was characterised by how the assailants stabbed bed-ridden patients, threw grenades into crowded wards and shot people from point-blank range. The Islamic State group claimed it was behind the attack via its propaganda agency Amaq -- hours after the Taliban denied responsibility. But the survivors AFP spoke to said the attackers chanted "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) and "Long live Taliban" in Pashto. The Afghan defence ministry said a government commission had been set up to investigate the attack. The violence underscores rising insecurity in Afghanistan. The country is bracing for an intense fighting season in the spring as the government`s repeated bids to launch peace negotiations with the Taliban have failed. Afghan forces, already beset by record casualties, desertions and non-existent "ghost soldiers" on the payroll, have been struggling to beat back insurgents since US-led NATO troops ended their combat mission in December 2014. Kabul last month endorsed US General John Nicholson's call for thousands of additional coalition troops to hold off the militants before the spring offensive. Extra troops were needed to end the stalemate in the war, Nicholson, the top American commander in Afghanistan, told the US Congress in what could be President Donald Trump`s first major test of military strategy. (AFP)

Powerful blast rocks downtown Kabul during rush hour

Gunmen dressed as doctors stormed Afghanistan&#39;s largest military hospital Wednesday, killing more than 30 people in a six-hour attack claimed by the Islamic State group as it makes inroads into the war-battered country.

Around 50 others were wounded in the assault on the Sardar Daud Khan hospital, with explosions and gunfire rattling Kabul&#39;s diplomatic district as dense clouds of smoke rose in the sky.

Medical staff hunkered down in the hospital wards posted desperate messages for help on social media. Television footage showed some of them trapped on the ledge of a top-floor window.

&quot;Attackers are inside the hospital. Pray for us,&quot; a hospital staff member wrote on Facebook.

Hospital administrators told AFP three gunmen wearing white laboratory coats began spraying bullets after a suicide bomber on foot blew himself up at the backdoor entrance, sparking chaos inside the 400-bed facility.

&quot;I saw one of the attackers, armed with an AK-47 and dressed as a doctor, shooting at patients and guards on the third floor,&quot; hospital nurse Abdul Qadeer told AFP.

&quot;They shot my friend but I managed to flee... I had to jump over the barbed wire to escape.&quot;

At least two other loud explosions -- including what the defence ministry called a car bomb in the hospital&#39;s parking lot -- were heard as Afghan special forces launched a clearance operation that lasted around six hours.

The attackers were gunned down after special forces landed on the roof of the hospital in a military helicopter.&nbsp;

&quot;More than 30 people were killed and around 50 wounded in today&#39;s attack,&quot; defence ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri told AFP. &quot;Most of the victims are patients, doctors and nurses.&quot;

&nbsp;&#39;Criminal act&#39;&nbsp; 
 
Afghanistan&#39;s warring parties, including government forces, have repeatedly targeted medical facilities, decimating the country&#39;s fragile health system and preventing conflict-displaced civilians from accessing life-saving care.

&quot;This is a criminal act. Nothing can justify an attack on hospitals,&quot; Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said of the latest attack.&nbsp;

&quot;We will never forgive these criminals. Unfortunately, this attack has resulted in some casualties.&quot;

Islamic State jihadists claimed the attack via a verified Telegram account.&nbsp;

The more powerful Taliban said they were not behind the raid. The militant group, Afghanistan&#39;s largest, is known to distance itself from attacks on medical facilities or those that result in high civilian casualties.

The assault comes just a week after 16 people were killed in simultaneous Taliban suicide assaults on two security compounds in Kabul.

Dozens of others were wounded as a suicide car bomber struck an Afghan police precinct in western Kabul and a five-hour gun battle ensued after another attacker sneaked in.

In the second attack last week, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the gates of an Afghan intelligence agency branch in eastern Kabul.

The carnage underscores rising insecurity. The country is bracing for an intense fighting season in the spring as the government&#39;s repeated bids to launch peace negotiations with the Taliban have failed.

Afghan forces, already beset by record casualties, desertions and non-existent &quot;ghost soldiers&quot; on the payroll, have been struggling to beat back insurgents since US-led NATO troops ended their combat mission in December 2014.

Kabul last month endorsed US General John Nicholson&#39;s call for thousands of additional coalition troops to hold off the militants before the spring offensive.

Extra troops were needed to end the stalemate in the war, Nicholson, the top US commander in Afghanistan, told the US Congress in what could be President Donald Trump&#39;s first major test of military strategy. 
 
(AFP)

Three gunmen wearing white laboratory coats were on the loose after a suicide bomber on foot blew himself up in the hospital

Gunmen dressed as doctors stormed Afghanistan's largest military hospital Wednesday, killing more than 30 people in a six-hour attack claimed by the Islamic State group as it makes inroads into the war-battered country. Around 50 others were wounded in the assault on the Sardar Daud Khan hospital, with explosions and gunfire rattling Kabul's diplomatic district as dense clouds of smoke rose in the sky. Medical staff hunkered down in the hospital wards posted desperate messages for help on social media. Television footage showed some of them trapped on the ledge of a top-floor window. "Attackers are inside the hospital. Pray for us," a hospital staff member wrote on Facebook. Hospital administrators told AFP three gunmen wearing white laboratory coats began spraying bullets after a suicide bomber on foot blew himself up at the backdoor entrance, sparking chaos inside the 400-bed facility. "I saw one of the attackers, armed with an AK-47 and dressed as a doctor, shooting at patients and guards on the third floor," hospital nurse Abdul Qadeer told AFP. "They shot my friend but I managed to flee... I had to jump over the barbed wire to escape." At least two other loud explosions -- including what the defence ministry called a car bomb in the hospital's parking lot -- were heard as Afghan special forces launched a clearance operation that lasted around six hours. The attackers were gunned down after special forces landed on the roof of the hospital in a military helicopter. "More than 30 people were killed and around 50 wounded in today's attack," defence ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri told AFP. "Most of the victims are patients, doctors and nurses." 'Criminal act' Afghanistan's warring parties, including government forces, have repeatedly targeted medical facilities, decimating the country's fragile health system and preventing conflict-displaced civilians from accessing life-saving care. "This is a criminal act. Nothing can justify an attack on hospitals," Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said of the latest attack. "We will never forgive these criminals. Unfortunately, this attack has resulted in some casualties." Islamic State jihadists claimed the attack via a verified Telegram account. The more powerful Taliban said they were not behind the raid. The militant group, Afghanistan's largest, is known to distance itself from attacks on medical facilities or those that result in high civilian casualties. The assault comes just a week after 16 people were killed in simultaneous Taliban suicide assaults on two security compounds in Kabul. Dozens of others were wounded as a suicide car bomber struck an Afghan police precinct in western Kabul and a five-hour gun battle ensued after another attacker sneaked in. In the second attack last week, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the gates of an Afghan intelligence agency branch in eastern Kabul. The carnage underscores rising insecurity. The country is bracing for an intense fighting season in the spring as the government's repeated bids to launch peace negotiations with the Taliban have failed. Afghan forces, already beset by record casualties, desertions and non-existent "ghost soldiers" on the payroll, have been struggling to beat back insurgents since US-led NATO troops ended their combat mission in December 2014. Kabul last month endorsed US General John Nicholson's call for thousands of additional coalition troops to hold off the militants before the spring offensive. Extra troops were needed to end the stalemate in the war, Nicholson, the top US commander in Afghanistan, told the US Congress in what could be President Donald Trump's first major test of military strategy. (AFP)

Over 30 killed, 50 injured as Islamic State gunmen storm military hospital in Kabul

Afghan Taliban militants said they attacked police, military and intelligence targets in Kabul on Wednesday and security officials confirmed attacks in at least two areas of the city.

A resounding explosion was heard across the city followed immediately by gunfire between security forces and an unknown number of attackers in the west of Kabul.

The fighting was concentrated near a district police headquarters not far from a military training school, according to one police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to the media.

A security official said one attacker was barricaded inside the police building.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>An official from the ministry of public health said one person had been killed and at least 35 people had been wounded</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=An official from the ministry of public health said one person had been killed and at least 35 people had been wounded" target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

A separate attack appeared to have targeted an office of Afghanistan&#39;s intelligence agency, the National Directorate for Security (NDS), on the eastern outskirts of Kabul. However a senior army official said that attack appeared to have been quickly suppressed.

&quot;Two terrorists entered a building. One blew himself up and the second was shot by Afghan security forces,&quot; said Abdul Nasir Ziaee, commander of 111th corps based in the east of the city.

The Taliban, who sometimes exaggerate the impact of their operations, said the attacks had caused heavy casualties.

An official from the ministry of public health said one person had been killed in the attack on the NDS office while at least 35 people had been wounded and transferred to hospital in the attack on the police office in western Kabul.

Last month, a suicide bomber killed at least 20 people outside the Supreme Court in Kabul. The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for that attack.

The Taliban are seeking to expel foreign troops, defeat the U.S.-backed government and reimpose Islamic law after their 2001 ouster.

The Wednesday attacks come shortly ahead of the period when the Taliban usually announce a spring offensive, and underline warnings from Afghan officials that they faced a difficult year.

Government forces have struggled to control the insurgency since a NATO-led force ended its combat mission in 2014.

According to U.S. estimates, Afghan government forces now control less than 60 percent of the country although they hold all main provincial centres.&nbsp;

(Reuters)

The militants said they attacked police, military and intelligence targets in the Afghan capital; authorities confirm two attacks

Afghan Taliban militants said they attacked police, military and intelligence targets in Kabul on Wednesday and security officials confirmed attacks in at least two areas of the city. A resounding explosion was heard across the city followed immediately by gunfire between security forces and an unknown number of attackers in the west of Kabul. The fighting was concentrated near a district police headquarters not far from a military training school, according to one police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to the media. A security official said one attacker was barricaded inside the police building. An official from the ministry of public health said one person had been killed and at least 35 people had been wounded × A separate attack appeared to have targeted an office of Afghanistan's intelligence agency, the National Directorate for Security (NDS), on the eastern outskirts of Kabul. However a senior army official said that attack appeared to have been quickly suppressed. "Two terrorists entered a building. One blew himself up and the second was shot by Afghan security forces," said Abdul Nasir Ziaee, commander of 111th corps based in the east of the city. The Taliban, who sometimes exaggerate the impact of their operations, said the attacks had caused heavy casualties. An official from the ministry of public health said one person had been killed in the attack on the NDS office while at least 35 people had been wounded and transferred to hospital in the attack on the police office in western Kabul. Last month, a suicide bomber killed at least 20 people outside the Supreme Court in Kabul. The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for that attack. The Taliban are seeking to expel foreign troops, defeat the U.S.-backed government and reimpose Islamic law after their 2001 ouster. The Wednesday attacks come shortly ahead of the period when the Taliban usually announce a spring offensive, and underline warnings from Afghan officials that they faced a difficult year. Government forces have struggled to control the insurgency since a NATO-led force ended its combat mission in 2014. According to U.S. estimates, Afghan government forces now control less than 60 percent of the country although they hold all main provincial centres. (Reuters)

Taliban claim multiple attacks on Kabul

&nbsp;A double tragedy befell an Afghan family when a policeman was killed in twin Taliban blasts in Kabul and unable to cope with the anguish, his mother also died, the AFP reported today.&nbsp; 
 
The twin blasts near the defence ministry in capital city reported on Monday claimed police commander Ahmad Salangi&#39;s life apart from at least 40 others who became victims of the attack.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;My mother was waiting by the door, waiting for news about Ahmad but I wanted to soothe her anxiety. I mumbled something, trying to hide the terrible news,&quot; Sayed Agha, his younger brother, told AFP explaining how kins of the deceased police commander were trying to cushion the shock in a bid to calm his anxious mother, adoringly called Bibi Haji.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;But I could not hide it much longer,&quot; Sayed added. The mother-of-six tried to put up a brave face when Sayed burst into tears saying that she had already lost two sons and was &#39;familiar with the pain&#39;.&nbsp;One of her sons, a mujahideen fighter, was killed battling the Taliban and another died of an illness. 
 
Soon Bibi Haji slipped into unconsciousness and was rushed to hospital. Barely half an hour later she was pronounced dead.&nbsp;&quot;I knew she could not stand the pain of losing another son,&quot; Sayed Agha told.&nbsp; 
 
Their funeral was carried out together in their native Parwan province, north of Kabul, today, which was attended by her extended family and government officials.&nbsp; 
 
The twin blasts, which also left 110 people wounded, was one of the worst episodes of violence in the capital. 
 
(WION)&nbsp;

Bibi Haji, mother of Ahmad Salangi fell seriously ill, slipping into unconsciousness

A double tragedy befell an Afghan family when a policeman was killed in twin Taliban blasts in Kabul and unable to cope with the anguish, his mother also died, the AFP reported today. The twin blasts near the defence ministry in capital city reported on Monday claimed police commander Ahmad Salangi's life apart from at least 40 others who became victims of the attack. "My mother was waiting by the door, waiting for news about Ahmad but I wanted to soothe her anxiety. I mumbled something, trying to hide the terrible news," Sayed Agha, his younger brother, told AFP explaining how kins of the deceased police commander were trying to cushion the shock in a bid to calm his anxious mother, adoringly called Bibi Haji. "But I could not hide it much longer," Sayed added. The mother-of-six tried to put up a brave face when Sayed burst into tears saying that she had already lost two sons and was 'familiar with the pain'. One of her sons, a mujahideen fighter, was killed battling the Taliban and another died of an illness. Soon Bibi Haji slipped into unconsciousness and was rushed to hospital. Barely half an hour later she was pronounced dead. "I knew she could not stand the pain of losing another son," Sayed Agha told. Their funeral was carried out together in their native Parwan province, north of Kabul, today, which was attended by her extended family and government officials. The twin blasts, which also left 110 people wounded, was one of the worst episodes of violence in the capital. (WION)

Grief-stricken mother dies after Kabul twin blasts claim son's life

The Taliban on Saturday captured a district in Afghanistan&#39;s northeastern Kunduz province, near the provincial capital where militants scored their biggest victory in 14 years last September. 
 
The militants, waging a bloody insurgency to topple the Western-backed Kabul government, have intensified their attacks nationwide and tightened their grip on the besieged capital of Helmand province southwest of Kunduz in recent weeks.&nbsp;Khan Abad district, which is around 30 kilometres east of Kunduz city, fell to the Taliban after they launched a pre-dawn attack on the district centre, according to local officials. 
 
&quot;After several hours of fighting the militants overran the district,&quot; the district&#39;s governor Hayatullah Amiri told AFP, adding that the provincial governor ignored their calls for reinforcements.&nbsp;Provincial spokesman Sayed Mahmood Danish confirmed the overnight battle, and said security forces were &quot;trying to get back control of the district from the Taliban&quot;. 
 
Khan Abad resident Abdul Satar told AFP hundreds had fled their homes amid the fighting.&nbsp;&quot;The residents of the city are worried about their lives and safety. People are fleeing their homes and they have left their shops,&quot; he said, adding that roads to neighbouring provinces were closed. 
 
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed in a statement the group&#39;s fighters were in control of district and police headquarters.&nbsp;Meanwhile, a roadside bomb ripped through a civilian vehicle in neighbouring Takhar province killing four people and wounding two others, Sunatullah Temor, a government spokesman for the province, told AFP. 
 
Civilians are bearing the brunt of conflict in Afghanistan, with casualties soaring to a record high in the first half of 2016, according to a recent UN report. 
 
Between January and June, 1,601 civilians were killed and 3,565 were wounded, a four per cent increase in casualties compared to the same period last year. Deaths from the conflict have reached their highest level since the UN began issuing its reports in 2009. 
 
The Taliban briefly captured northern Kunduz city in September last year, the first city to fall to the insurgents in their biggest victory in 14 years of war.&nbsp;The militants were driven out almost two weeks later by Afghan forces backed by US aircraft and NATO soldiers, but it marked the first time since 2001 that the Taliban were able to take control of a major city in the country. 
 
After the brief Kunduz takeover, US and Afghan officials insisted that they would not allow another urban centre to be captured. 
 
Earlier this month, the Taliban launched a major offensive in volatile southern Helmand province, surrounding the capital Lashkar Gah, a town of 200,000 inhabitants, but were stopped by Afghan forces supported by American air strikes. 
 
The fighting in Helmand and Kunduz come as Afghan troops are stretched on multiple fronts across Afghanistan, including eastern Nangarhar province where the Islamic State group is making inroads. 
 
(AFP)&nbsp;

Civilians are bearing the brunt of conflict in Afghanistan with casualties soaring to a record high in the first half of 2016, says the UN

The Taliban on Saturday captured a district in Afghanistan's northeastern Kunduz province, near the provincial capital where militants scored their biggest victory in 14 years last September. The militants, waging a bloody insurgency to topple the Western-backed Kabul government, have intensified their attacks nationwide and tightened their grip on the besieged capital of Helmand province southwest of Kunduz in recent weeks. Khan Abad district, which is around 30 kilometres east of Kunduz city, fell to the Taliban after they launched a pre-dawn attack on the district centre, according to local officials. "After several hours of fighting the militants overran the district," the district's governor Hayatullah Amiri told AFP, adding that the provincial governor ignored their calls for reinforcements. Provincial spokesman Sayed Mahmood Danish confirmed the overnight battle, and said security forces were "trying to get back control of the district from the Taliban". Khan Abad resident Abdul Satar told AFP hundreds had fled their homes amid the fighting. "The residents of the city are worried about their lives and safety. People are fleeing their homes and they have left their shops," he said, adding that roads to neighbouring provinces were closed. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed in a statement the group's fighters were in control of district and police headquarters. Meanwhile, a roadside bomb ripped through a civilian vehicle in neighbouring Takhar province killing four people and wounding two others, Sunatullah Temor, a government spokesman for the province, told AFP. Civilians are bearing the brunt of conflict in Afghanistan, with casualties soaring to a record high in the first half of 2016, according to a recent UN report. Between January and June, 1,601 civilians were killed and 3,565 were wounded, a four per cent increase in casualties compared to the same period last year. Deaths from the conflict have reached their highest level since the UN began issuing its reports in 2009. The Taliban briefly captured northern Kunduz city in September last year, the first city to fall to the insurgents in their biggest victory in 14 years of war. The militants were driven out almost two weeks later by Afghan forces backed by US aircraft and NATO soldiers, but it marked the first time since 2001 that the Taliban were able to take control of a major city in the country. After the brief Kunduz takeover, US and Afghan officials insisted that they would not allow another urban centre to be captured. Earlier this month, the Taliban launched a major offensive in volatile southern Helmand province, surrounding the capital Lashkar Gah, a town of 200,000 inhabitants, but were stopped by Afghan forces supported by American air strikes. The fighting in Helmand and Kunduz come as Afghan troops are stretched on multiple fronts across Afghanistan, including eastern Nangarhar province where the Islamic State group is making inroads. (AFP)

Blast in Kabul kills one, Taliban claims responsibility?

afghanistan-blast

Afghanistan Blast, News on Afghanistan Blast, stories on Afghanistan Blast, articles on Afghanistan Blast, Afghanistan Blast stories at Wion, Afghanistan Blast news, Afghanistan Blast latest news

afghanistan blast

Roadside bomb blast kills 10 civilians in eastern Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Army commander killed in bomb blast in Helmand

Afghanistan: Foreign national killed as UN vehicle hit in Kabul blast

Two explosions rock Afghanistan, three killed

At least seven killed in car bomb blast in Kabul

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - September 18th, 2019

Afghanistan: 9 injured after suicide bomber, gunmen hit government office

Afghanistan: At least 24 killed in blast in Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's election rally

News brief: Big stories of the day

Afghanistan highway blast kills at least 35 on bus, injures 27

Afghanistan: Three blasts hit Kabul, killing one and injuring 17

At least two dead after roadside blast in Afghanistan's Herat province

4 Americans die in roadside Afghanistan blast, Taliban claims responsiblity

Afghanistan blast kills election candidate in southern province

1 killed, 3 injured in Kabul blast

Islamic state claims responsibility for Afghan capital attack: Agency

News brief: Big stories of the day

WION Evening News brief, February 20, 2018

Three killed in blast in Afghan city Jalalabad

Afghanistan: Suicide bomber, gunman kill at least 29 in Herat Shiite mosque

Explosion in western Afghanistan kills 7, injures 16: CNN

Trump condemns Kabul blast as Afghanistan blames Pakistan-backed Haqqani network

Powerful blast rocks downtown Kabul during rush hour

Over 30 killed, 50 injured as Islamic State gunmen storm military hospital in Kabul

Taliban claim multiple attacks on Kabul

Grief-stricken mother dies after Kabul twin blasts claim son's life