At least 19&nbsp;people have been killed and several injured in a blast in Kabul during the funeral ceremony of a man who was killed in Friday&#39;s antigovernment protests, reported Reuters.

Saturday&#39;s blast came at a time when the city of Kabul was under a lockdown in a bid to prevent protesters from coming on the streets to prevent a repeat of Friday&#39;s bloody confrontation between antigovernment protesters and the Afghan police.

President Ashraf Ghani took to twitter to express his anguish over the explosions.

&quot;The country is under attack,&quot; Ghani said in a message on Twitter. &quot;We must be strong and united.&quot;

Kabul&#39;s Italian-run Emergency Hospital said 19 people had been reported killed and 16 wounded had been brought to the hospital. The interior ministry said there were six dead and 87 wounded, Reuters reported.

&quot;There were sounds of explosions everywhere and I saw my hands and face were on fire,&quot; said Mohammad Azim, who was being treated for burns at the Emergency Hospital. &quot;There were parts of human bodies everywhere.&quot;

Dr Abdullah Abdullah, who is the chief executive of Afghanistan, was also present at the funeral of the man who was the son of a senator. His official twitter handle said that he is safe.

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&quot;People were blown to pieces&quot; due to the impact of the blasts, a witness told AFP.

The interior ministry said that it is unclear what caused the explosions.

&quot;We don&#39;t know what caused the explosions. Initial reports show 15 people have been killed and wounded,&quot; interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said on Twitter.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from agencies)

The blast occurred at a time when Kabul is witnessing protests by people against worsening security scenario

At least 19 people have been killed and several injured in a blast in Kabul during the funeral ceremony of a man who was killed in Friday's antigovernment protests, reported Reuters. Saturday's blast came at a time when the city of Kabul was under a lockdown in a bid to prevent protesters from coming on the streets to prevent a repeat of Friday's bloody confrontation between antigovernment protesters and the Afghan police. President Ashraf Ghani took to twitter to express his anguish over the explosions. "The country is under attack," Ghani said in a message on Twitter. "We must be strong and united." Kabul's Italian-run Emergency Hospital said 19 people had been reported killed and 16 wounded had been brought to the hospital. The interior ministry said there were six dead and 87 wounded, Reuters reported. "There were sounds of explosions everywhere and I saw my hands and face were on fire," said Mohammad Azim, who was being treated for burns at the Emergency Hospital. "There were parts of human bodies everywhere." Dr Abdullah Abdullah, who is the chief executive of Afghanistan, was also present at the funeral of the man who was the son of a senator. His official twitter handle said that he is safe. × "People were blown to pieces" due to the impact of the blasts, a witness told AFP. The interior ministry said that it is unclear what caused the explosions. "We don't know what caused the explosions. Initial reports show 15 people have been killed and wounded," interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said on Twitter. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Afghanistan: At least 19 killed in blast near funeral of man killed during Kabul protests

The death toll among Afghan security forces has remained &quot;shockingly high&quot; this year, a United States-based watchdog said, as the US ponders about its future course of action in the war-stricken country.

Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), the watchdog, said 807 security personnel died and 1,328 wounded between January 1 and February 24.

The number is especially alarming because the level of violence subsides during the harsh winter months. Traditionally, the Taliban and other insurgency groups renew their attacks as spring approaches.

&quot;Afghanistan remains in the grip of a deadly war,&quot; the SIGAR report said.

&quot;Casualties suffered by the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) in the fight against the Taliban and other insurgents continue to be shockingly high,&quot; said SIGAR, which was set up to review the effectiveness of US support programmes.

The data were obtained from the US&nbsp;military and were based on operational reporting and may differ from official statistics provided by the Afghan government and ministries.

There has been little let-up in violence targeting Afghan forces since the period covered in the report.

On April 21 an attack by militants on an army base in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif killed 135 soldiers, according to official figures, and twice that number by other accounts.

It is important to note that the Afghan security forces took over security operations from NATO in 2015.

In a report released in February, SIGAR said at least 6,785 Afghan soldiers and police had been killed in the first 10 months of 2016. Civilian casualties last year totalled 3,498 killed and 7,920 wounded, making it the deadliest year on record for civilians.

From January to March this year, 715 civilians were killed and 1,466 wounded.

The figures come as the US&nbsp;weighs its future strategy for Afghanistan, where it has already spent more than $115 billion in reconstruction efforts.

On the upside, the Afghan security forces have increased their sphere of influence in the country.

They now control 59.7 per cent of the country, up from 57.2 per cent,&nbsp;Al Jazeera reported.

(WION with inputs from Reuters)

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A US watchdog said 807 security personnel died and 1,328 wounded between January 1 and February 24

The death toll among Afghan security forces has remained "shockingly high" this year, a United States-based watchdog said, as the US ponders about its future course of action in the war-stricken country. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), the watchdog, said 807 security personnel died and 1,328 wounded between January 1 and February 24. The number is especially alarming because the level of violence subsides during the harsh winter months. Traditionally, the Taliban and other insurgency groups renew their attacks as spring approaches. "Afghanistan remains in the grip of a deadly war," the SIGAR report said. "Casualties suffered by the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) in the fight against the Taliban and other insurgents continue to be shockingly high," said SIGAR, which was set up to review the effectiveness of US support programmes. The data were obtained from the US military and were based on operational reporting and may differ from official statistics provided by the Afghan government and ministries. There has been little let-up in violence targeting Afghan forces since the period covered in the report. On April 21 an attack by militants on an army base in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif killed 135 soldiers, according to official figures, and twice that number by other accounts. It is important to note that the Afghan security forces took over security operations from NATO in 2015. In a report released in February, SIGAR said at least 6,785 Afghan soldiers and police had been killed in the first 10 months of 2016. Civilian casualties last year totalled 3,498 killed and 7,920 wounded, making it the deadliest year on record for civilians. From January to March this year, 715 civilians were killed and 1,466 wounded. The figures come as the US weighs its future strategy for Afghanistan, where it has already spent more than $115 billion in reconstruction efforts. On the upside, the Afghan security forces have increased their sphere of influence in the country. They now control 59.7 per cent of the country, up from 57.2 per cent, Al Jazeera reported. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Afghan security forces' death toll 'shockingly high' this year: Report

The Afghan parliament approved President Ashraf Ghani&#39;s choices for defence minister and intelligence chief today, ensuring continuity in command at time when the Taliban insurgency has intensified and more US troops are preparing to go home. 
 
Parliament approved General Abdullah Khan Habibi as new defence minister, to replace Masoom Stanekzai, who will now head Afghanistan&#39;s intelligence agency, the National Directorate for Security (NDS). 
 
Their confirmation comes ahead of a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) summit next month in Warsaw, where Afghanistan and the future role of international coalition forces are expected to be a major issue. 
 
&quot;There is ongoing fighting in almost 20 provinces of the country and the fighting strategy cannot be administrated by caretakers,&quot; Farhad Sediqi, a member of parliament from Kabul, said as the lawmakers gave their assent to Ghani&#39;s choices . 
 
The president had nominated Habibi and Stanekzai a little over a month ago, and the speed of their confirmation stood in contrast to the factional wrangling that followed Stanekzai&#39;s nomination as defence minister in the wake of the 2014 election. 
 
At that time, lawmakers failed to confirm his appointment for well over a year, as rival factions vied for greater influence in the unity government formed by Ghani and government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah after the disputed election. 
 
The risky situation in Afghanistan has forced US President Barack Obama to consider altering plans to halve the 9,800-strong US force in the country by the start of next year. 
 
The Taliban, which now controls more territory than at any time since it was driven from power by US-led forces in 2001, has also stepped up its annual spring offensive. 
 
The threat to Afghanistan&#39;s security was underlined today by a series of attacks in Kabul and the northern province of Badakhshan in which more than 20 people were killed. 
 
Afghan security forces have succeeded in pushing the insurgents back from the northern city of Kunduz, which fell briefly last year, but they have faced heavy pressure in southern regions including the strategic province of Helmand. 
(Reuters)

The move ensures continuity in a time when the country's security is being undermined by Taliban attacks

The Afghan parliament approved President Ashraf Ghani's choices for defence minister and intelligence chief today, ensuring continuity in command at time when the Taliban insurgency has intensified and more US troops are preparing to go home. Parliament approved General Abdullah Khan Habibi as new defence minister, to replace Masoom Stanekzai, who will now head Afghanistan's intelligence agency, the National Directorate for Security (NDS). Their confirmation comes ahead of a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) summit next month in Warsaw, where Afghanistan and the future role of international coalition forces are expected to be a major issue. "There is ongoing fighting in almost 20 provinces of the country and the fighting strategy cannot be administrated by caretakers," Farhad Sediqi, a member of parliament from Kabul, said as the lawmakers gave their assent to Ghani's choices . The president had nominated Habibi and Stanekzai a little over a month ago, and the speed of their confirmation stood in contrast to the factional wrangling that followed Stanekzai's nomination as defence minister in the wake of the 2014 election. At that time, lawmakers failed to confirm his appointment for well over a year, as rival factions vied for greater influence in the unity government formed by Ghani and government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah after the disputed election. The risky situation in Afghanistan has forced US President Barack Obama to consider altering plans to halve the 9,800-strong US force in the country by the start of next year. The Taliban, which now controls more territory than at any time since it was driven from power by US-led forces in 2001, has also stepped up its annual spring offensive. The threat to Afghanistan's security was underlined today by a series of attacks in Kabul and the northern province of Badakhshan in which more than 20 people were killed. Afghan security forces have succeeded in pushing the insurgents back from the northern city of Kunduz, which fell briefly last year, but they have faced heavy pressure in southern regions including the strategic province of Helmand. (Reuters)

Afghan parliament approves President's choices for defence and intelligence chiefs ahead of NATO summit

A series of kidnappings and murders on Afghanistan&#39;s highways has some officials and travellers questioning the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)-backed strategy that reduces&nbsp;security check posts in order to free up police and soldiers to go after the Taliban. 
 
Since the end of May, more than 200 people have been reported kidnapped and at least 21 murdered in northern and eastern Afghanistan. 
 
Roads have long been dangerous in the war-torn country, as the Taliban insurgency and other Islamist militant groups have expanded their reach. 
 
But the spike in abductions and killings, widely blamed on the Taliban, comes a few months after the NATO-led international mission encouraged Afghan security forces to close many smaller checkpoints. 
 
In late May, the Taliban also named a new leader, although it is not clear if they have changed tactics to go after softer targets. 
 
Defence ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanish said measures were being taken to make travel safer. The vast majority of Afghan individuals and businesses have to use roads, because flights are either unavailable or unaffordable to them. 
 
&quot;Kidnapping of innocent people, which is a new tactic by the Taliban, is a concern for us,&quot; said Radmanish. &quot;We have increased the number of patrols and bases&nbsp;on major highways during the day time.&quot; 
 
The move to staff fewer checkpoints was aimed at reducing casualties among security forces as well as bolstering offensive operations, and the coalition says it still supports the policy. 
 
&quot;The reduction of checkpoints has actually allowed the Afghan Security Forces&nbsp;to respond more quickly to enemy activity and move from a defensive mindset to one that&#39;s more offensive in nature,&quot; coalition spokesman Brigadier General Charles Cleveland said. 
 
The road attacks against civilians, however, have taken Afghan officials by surprise, and the government is reviewing the policy, said one senior Afghan military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. 
 
Cleveland said he was optimistic Afghan security forces would be able to better secure transportation routes. 
 
&quot;Taliban are everywhere&quot; 
 
Bus drivers and passengers described a growing sense of fear, despite government efforts to stop the attacks. 
 
&quot;The Taliban are everywhere and take hostages whenever they want to,&quot; said bus driver Nasrullah, who travels between the capital Kabul and Kunduz in the north and uses one name. 
 
&quot;Some passengers are so afraid (that they) keep talking to family members on the phone, sometimes the whole journey.&quot; 
 
Ghazni province, where 12 people were killed and nearly 50 kidnapped in road attacks on Wednesday, lies astride the vital highway from Kabul to Kandahar in the south. 
 
Soldiers still try to patrol the route during the day, but with many checkpoints closed they only provide a temporary presence, said Hanif Rezaee, spokesman for the army in Ghazni. 
 
&quot;There are still small checkpoints, but at the end of the day, the soldiers move back to their bases,&quot; he said. &quot;It is very difficult for us to provide 24 hour patrolling.&quot; 
 
Security officials said the Taliban&#39;s ploy may be to expose the government&#39;s weakness outside major urban centres. 
 
&quot;By kidnapping passengers, the Taliban are trying to provoke people against the government, showing that it can&#39;t provide security,&quot; said Mohammad Qasim Jangalbagh, police chief of Kunduz, where security forces have rescued at least 140 hostages kidnapped in May. 
 
Criminals also blamed 
 
Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for the Afghan interior ministry, said the government was re-examining its highway security strategy in light of recent attacks. 
 
&quot;We have decided to increase the number of checkpoints on major highways and also increase the number of regular patrols.&quot; 
 
Asked why road attacks had increased markedly, he replied: &quot;The Taliban had high expectations when they started their spring offensive, but since then Afghan forces have hit them hard, and killed hundreds of their commanders and shadow governors. 
 
&quot;Now the Taliban want revenge or to compensate (by attacking) innocent people.&quot; 
 
The Taliban have not claimed all recent road attacks, and a spokesman was not immediately available to comment. 
 
Insurgents are not the only ones profiting from lawlessness, according to bus driver Mohammed Shir, who travels between Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif, another northern city. 
 
&quot;There are always Taliban stopping cars and searching,&quot; he said. &quot;Sometimes they are thieves and only want your belongings. Such incidents happen more often from evening till dawn when there are no government security forces.&quot; 
 
The number of bus passengers has dropped sharply, and those who can afford it are opting for air travel, said Mohammed Zakaria, who runs a bus company in Mazar-i-Sharif. 
 
Those who cannot go by air increasingly travel only during the day. 
 
Off-duty members of the security forces are frequently targeted by militants. 
 
When Sher Baz, a police officer based in Ghazni, travels to Kabul to see his family, he often hides his identification card to avoid being targeted should he be stopped. 
 
&quot;It is a very difficult journey, but I have to make it because there is no direct flight,&quot; he said.

The NATO-led mission, Resolute Support, was launched in January 2015 reduced security check posts to bolster offensive operations

A series of kidnappings and murders on Afghanistan's highways has some officials and travellers questioning the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)-backed strategy that reduces security check posts in order to free up police and soldiers to go after the Taliban. Since the end of May, more than 200 people have been reported kidnapped and at least 21 murdered in northern and eastern Afghanistan. Roads have long been dangerous in the war-torn country, as the Taliban insurgency and other Islamist militant groups have expanded their reach. But the spike in abductions and killings, widely blamed on the Taliban, comes a few months after the NATO-led international mission encouraged Afghan security forces to close many smaller checkpoints. In late May, the Taliban also named a new leader, although it is not clear if they have changed tactics to go after softer targets. Defence ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanish said measures were being taken to make travel safer. The vast majority of Afghan individuals and businesses have to use roads, because flights are either unavailable or unaffordable to them. "Kidnapping of innocent people, which is a new tactic by the Taliban, is a concern for us," said Radmanish. "We have increased the number of patrols and bases on major highways during the day time." The move to staff fewer checkpoints was aimed at reducing casualties among security forces as well as bolstering offensive operations, and the coalition says it still supports the policy. "The reduction of checkpoints has actually allowed the Afghan Security Forces to respond more quickly to enemy activity and move from a defensive mindset to one that's more offensive in nature," coalition spokesman Brigadier General Charles Cleveland said. The road attacks against civilians, however, have taken Afghan officials by surprise, and the government is reviewing the policy, said one senior Afghan military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Cleveland said he was optimistic Afghan security forces would be able to better secure transportation routes. "Taliban are everywhere" Bus drivers and passengers described a growing sense of fear, despite government efforts to stop the attacks. "The Taliban are everywhere and take hostages whenever they want to," said bus driver Nasrullah, who travels between the capital Kabul and Kunduz in the north and uses one name. "Some passengers are so afraid (that they) keep talking to family members on the phone, sometimes the whole journey." Ghazni province, where 12 people were killed and nearly 50 kidnapped in road attacks on Wednesday, lies astride the vital highway from Kabul to Kandahar in the south. Soldiers still try to patrol the route during the day, but with many checkpoints closed they only provide a temporary presence, said Hanif Rezaee, spokesman for the army in Ghazni. "There are still small checkpoints, but at the end of the day, the soldiers move back to their bases," he said. "It is very difficult for us to provide 24 hour patrolling." Security officials said the Taliban's ploy may be to expose the government's weakness outside major urban centres. "By kidnapping passengers, the Taliban are trying to provoke people against the government, showing that it can't provide security," said Mohammad Qasim Jangalbagh, police chief of Kunduz, where security forces have rescued at least 140 hostages kidnapped in May. Criminals also blamed Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for the Afghan interior ministry, said the government was re-examining its highway security strategy in light of recent attacks. "We have decided to increase the number of checkpoints on major highways and also increase the number of regular patrols." Asked why road attacks had increased markedly, he replied: "The Taliban had high expectations when they started their spring offensive, but since then Afghan forces have hit them hard, and killed hundreds of their commanders and shadow governors. "Now the Taliban want revenge or to compensate (by attacking) innocent people." The Taliban have not claimed all recent road attacks, and a spokesman was not immediately available to comment. Insurgents are not the only ones profiting from lawlessness, according to bus driver Mohammed Shir, who travels between Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif, another northern city. "There are always Taliban stopping cars and searching," he said. "Sometimes they are thieves and only want your belongings. Such incidents happen more often from evening till dawn when there are no government security forces." The number of bus passengers has dropped sharply, and those who can afford it are opting for air travel, said Mohammed Zakaria, who runs a bus company in Mazar-i-Sharif. Those who cannot go by air increasingly travel only during the day. Off-duty members of the security forces are frequently targeted by militants. When Sher Baz, a police officer based in Ghazni, travels to Kabul to see his family, he often hides his identification card to avoid being targeted should he be stopped. "It is a very difficult journey, but I have to make it because there is no direct flight," he said.

Fewer checkpoints cause Taliban to expand reach, make Afghan highways dangerous