The death toll from a suicide bomb attack on a wedding reception in Afghanistan`s capital, Kabul, has risen to 80, two senior officials said on Wednesday.

The initial death toll after the Saturday night blast was 63, but some of the wounded had died, said Nasrat Rahimi, a spokesman at the interior ministry.

"Seventeen others have succumbed to their injuries in hospital and over 160 are still being treated either in hospitals or at home," Rahimi said.

Among the 160 people wounded at the wedding blast, many are in critical condition, some not well enough to undergo surgery, said a second senior interior ministry official.

The Islamic State (IS) militant group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mirwais Elmi Mohammadi, the 26-year-old groom whose wedding party was attacked, said he was in a complete state of disbelief and had no mental strength to attend the funerals of his relatives and friends.

"To see family members die, or get injured at my wedding is a very heavy burden of grief and regret," Mohammadi told Reuters.

Many Afghans have cancelled or scaled back plans for weddings and other festivities in recent days and are demanding that the government tightens security to protect society.

At least 3,812 civilians were killed or wounded in the first half of 2019 in the war against militant groups, including a big increase in the number of casualties caused by government and foreign forces, the United Nations said in July.

Police said more than 25 weddings had been postponed in Kabul after the latest suicide attack renewed fears about the threat posed by IS at a time when the United States and the Taliban appear to be nearing a deal on a US&nbsp;troop withdrawal.

"We pay taxes to the government and it is the responsibility of the government to provide us with high security. We have the right to be protected," said Mohammad Nader Qarghaie, head of the union of wedding halls.&nbsp;

The union, which has more than 100 wedding halls and large banquet rooms as members.

A frustrated Mohammad Ashraf, who owns a food catering business in Kabul, said civilians had to be protected.

"Afghans are being used as pawns by all foreign countries and militant groups to prove their strength," Ashraf said.

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said the US&nbsp;military role in Afghanistan has basically turned into a "ridiculous" police force in a sign that he was open to a US&nbsp;troop drawdown after a deal with the Taliban.

US special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, who has been leading talks with the Taliban, is expected in Qatar on Wednesday to resume meetings with Taliban negotiators.

He is later due to travel to Kabul to meet Afghan leaders.

The death toll from a suicide bomb attack on a wedding reception in Afghanistan`s capital, Kabul, has risen to 80, two senior officials said on Wednesday. The initial death toll after the Saturday night blast was 63, but some of the wounded had died, said Nasrat Rahimi, a spokesman at the interior ministry.

The death toll from a suicide bomb attack on a wedding reception in Afghanistan`s capital, Kabul, has risen to 80, two senior officials said on Wednesday. The initial death toll after the Saturday night blast was 63, but some of the wounded had died, said Nasrat Rahimi, a spokesman at the interior ministry. "Seventeen others have succumbed to their injuries in hospital and over 160 are still being treated either in hospitals or at home," Rahimi said. Among the 160 people wounded at the wedding blast, many are in critical condition, some not well enough to undergo surgery, said a second senior interior ministry official. The Islamic State (IS) militant group claimed responsibility for the attack. Mirwais Elmi Mohammadi, the 26-year-old groom whose wedding party was attacked, said he was in a complete state of disbelief and had no mental strength to attend the funerals of his relatives and friends. "To see family members die, or get injured at my wedding is a very heavy burden of grief and regret," Mohammadi told Reuters. Many Afghans have cancelled or scaled back plans for weddings and other festivities in recent days and are demanding that the government tightens security to protect society. At least 3,812 civilians were killed or wounded in the first half of 2019 in the war against militant groups, including a big increase in the number of casualties caused by government and foreign forces, the United Nations said in July. Police said more than 25 weddings had been postponed in Kabul after the latest suicide attack renewed fears about the threat posed by IS at a time when the United States and the Taliban appear to be nearing a deal on a US troop withdrawal. "We pay taxes to the government and it is the responsibility of the government to provide us with high security. We have the right to be protected," said Mohammad Nader Qarghaie, head of the union of wedding halls. The union, which has more than 100 wedding halls and large banquet rooms as members. A frustrated Mohammad Ashraf, who owns a food catering business in Kabul, said civilians had to be protected. "Afghans are being used as pawns by all foreign countries and militant groups to prove their strength," Ashraf said. On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said the US military role in Afghanistan has basically turned into a "ridiculous" police force in a sign that he was open to a US troop drawdown after a deal with the Taliban. US special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, who has been leading talks with the Taliban, is expected in Qatar on Wednesday to resume meetings with Taliban negotiators. He is later due to travel to Kabul to meet Afghan leaders.

Death toll from Afghan wedding blast rises to 80: Officials

The groom of a wedding in western Kabul that was hit by a suicide blast that killed dozens told media on Monday his happiness has been "taken away".

'They took my happiness away'- Afghan groom after Islamic State attack on his wedding

At least 63&nbsp;people are feared dead and over 182&nbsp;injured following a deadly suicide-bomb blast in Darulaman area of Kabul city on Saturday night, a senior Afghan official said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghans-in-limbo-ahead-of-independence-day-amid-concerns-over-election-us-taliban-talks-243720">Afghan Interior Ministry</a> confirmed the attack and said the explosion took place at around 10:40 pm, reported Tolo news.&nbsp;

According to eyewitnesses, the suicide bomber laid explosives among the wedding participants and detonated them.

People say that almost a thousand people were invited to the ceremony.

There are reports that this could end up being the deadliest attack on Kabul in recent times.

While the Taliban is the obvious candidate to have carried out the attack, the group has not released any statements yet.

The blast happened in western Kabul, a predominantly Shia locality.

The Shia minority has been targeted by the Taliban multiple times over the years.

Most of the injured were later taken to a hospital in the city.

There has been a slew of attacks in Afghanistan in recent times.

Most of which have been claimed by the Taliban.

10 days back, they had attacked a police headquarters, killing 14 people and injuring more than a hundred.

These attacks come at a time when the united states are discussing a peace deal in Afghanistan — a deal that involves the Taliban giving up arms.

The latest blast at the wedding comes ahead of Afghanistan's 100th independence day celebrations tomorrow, and shortly after the festival of Eid al-Adha.

Meanwhile, Taliban sources indicate that the younger brother of a prominent Afghan Taliban leader was killed in a bomb blast near a mosque in Pakistan.

But the Taliban leadership has promised that his killing will not affect the progress of the peace talks with the united states.

(With inputs from agencies)

At least 63 people are feared dead and over 182 injured following a deadly suicide-bomb blast in Darulaman area of Kabul city on Saturday night, a senior Afghan official said.

At least 63 people are feared dead and over 182 injured following a deadly suicide-bomb blast in Darulaman area of Kabul city on Saturday night, a senior Afghan official said. Afghan Interior Ministry confirmed the attack and said the explosion took place at around 10:40 pm, reported Tolo news. According to eyewitnesses, the suicide bomber laid explosives among the wedding participants and detonated them. People say that almost a thousand people were invited to the ceremony. There are reports that this could end up being the deadliest attack on Kabul in recent times. While the Taliban is the obvious candidate to have carried out the attack, the group has not released any statements yet. The blast happened in western Kabul, a predominantly Shia locality. The Shia minority has been targeted by the Taliban multiple times over the years. Most of the injured were later taken to a hospital in the city. There has been a slew of attacks in Afghanistan in recent times. Most of which have been claimed by the Taliban. 10 days back, they had attacked a police headquarters, killing 14 people and injuring more than a hundred. These attacks come at a time when the united states are discussing a peace deal in Afghanistan — a deal that involves the Taliban giving up arms. The latest blast at the wedding comes ahead of Afghanistan's 100th independence day celebrations tomorrow, and shortly after the festival of Eid al-Adha. Meanwhile, Taliban sources indicate that the younger brother of a prominent Afghan Taliban leader was killed in a bomb blast near a mosque in Pakistan. But the Taliban leadership has promised that his killing will not affect the progress of the peace talks with the united states. (With inputs from agencies)

63 killed, 182 injured as blast rips through wedding party in Afghanistan's Kabul

At least 20 people were wounded in a<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-ied-blast-targets-bus-in-kabul-at-least-10-wounded-221867"> blast</a> at a Kabul wedding late Saturday, a local hospital said, while a witness said he had seen many <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-vice-president-candidate-injured-as-kabul-blast-kills-two-wounds-another-25-239058">dead bodies</a> at the scene.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-death-toll-in-blast-near-kabul-university-mounts-to-8-dozens-wounded-237097">explosion</a> came just as the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghans-in-limbo-ahead-of-independence-day-amid-concerns-over-election-us-taliban-talks-243720">US and the Taliban </a>are widely expected to sign off on a deal that would see American troops begin to depart Afghanistan in return for various security assurances from the insurgents.

"#Kabul #Afghanistan explosion in a hotel during a wedding party, about 20 patients arrived up to now at our hospital #masscasualty," the Italian-run Emergency hospital of Kabul said on Twitter.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🔴 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kabul?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kabul</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a> explosion in a hotel during a wedding party, about 20 patients arrived up to now at our hospital <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/masscasualty?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#masscasualty</a>
— EMERGENCY (@emergency_ong) <a href="https://twitter.com/emergency_ong/status/1162808274749722624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said the blast occurred in a west Kabul wedding hall around 10:40 pm (1810 GMT).

He shared on Facebook photos showing several apparent bodies inside a dining area.

Afghan weddings are epic and vibrant affairs, with hundreds or often thousands of guests celebrating inside industrial-scale wedding halls where the men are usually segregated from the women and children.

Mohammad Farhag, who had been at the wedding, said he had been in the women's section when he heard a huge blast in the men's area.&nbsp;

"Everyone ran outside shouting and crying," he said.

"For about 20 minutes the hall was full of smoke. Almost everyone in the men's section is either dead or wounded. Now, two hours after the blast, they are still taking bodies out of the hall."

No group immediately claimed responsibility.

Little security

Government spokesman Feroz Bashari said the blast was "a clear sign that terrorists can't see Afghans express happiness."

"You can't make them bow by killing them. The perpetrators of tonight's attack shall be held responsible," he wrote on Twitter.

Insurgents have periodically struck Afghan weddings, which are seen as easy targets because they frequently lack rigorous security precautions.

On July 12, at least six people were killed when a suicide bomber attacked a wedding ceremony in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar. The Islamic State group, which has a growing footprint in the region, claimed the blast.

Expectations are rising for a deal in which the US would start withdrawing its approximately 14,000 soldiers from Afghanistan after a two-decade war that has turned into a stalemate.

US President Donald Trump has said since the start of his presidency that he wants troops out of the country where Washington has spent more than $1 trillion on military operations and reconstruction since 2001.

In return for the US departure, the Taliban would commit to various security guarantees, including that the Islamist hardliners who long harboured Al-Qaeda would not allow Afghanistan to once again become a jihadist haven.

On Friday, Ahmadullah Azkhundzada, brother of Afghan Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada, was among four people killed in a blast at a mosque in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan, a senior official with the provincial government said.

At least 20 people were wounded in a blast at a Kabul wedding late Saturday, a local hospital said, while a witness said he had seen many dead bodies at the scene.

At least 20 people were wounded in a blast at a Kabul wedding late Saturday, a local hospital said, while a witness said he had seen many dead bodies at the scene. The explosion came just as the US and the Taliban are widely expected to sign off on a deal that would see American troops begin to depart Afghanistan in return for various security assurances from the insurgents. "#Kabul #Afghanistan explosion in a hotel during a wedding party, about 20 patients arrived up to now at our hospital #masscasualty," the Italian-run Emergency hospital of Kabul said on Twitter. 🔴 #Kabul #Afghanistan explosion in a hotel during a wedding party, about 20 patients arrived up to now at our hospital #masscasualty — EMERGENCY (@emergency_ong) August 17, 2019 × Interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said the blast occurred in a west Kabul wedding hall around 10:40 pm (1810 GMT). He shared on Facebook photos showing several apparent bodies inside a dining area. Afghan weddings are epic and vibrant affairs, with hundreds or often thousands of guests celebrating inside industrial-scale wedding halls where the men are usually segregated from the women and children. Mohammad Farhag, who had been at the wedding, said he had been in the women's section when he heard a huge blast in the men's area. "Everyone ran outside shouting and crying," he said. "For about 20 minutes the hall was full of smoke. Almost everyone in the men's section is either dead or wounded. Now, two hours after the blast, they are still taking bodies out of the hall." No group immediately claimed responsibility. Little security Government spokesman Feroz Bashari said the blast was "a clear sign that terrorists can't see Afghans express happiness." "You can't make them bow by killing them. The perpetrators of tonight's attack shall be held responsible," he wrote on Twitter. Insurgents have periodically struck Afghan weddings, which are seen as easy targets because they frequently lack rigorous security precautions. On July 12, at least six people were killed when a suicide bomber attacked a wedding ceremony in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar. The Islamic State group, which has a growing footprint in the region, claimed the blast. Expectations are rising for a deal in which the US would start withdrawing its approximately 14,000 soldiers from Afghanistan after a two-decade war that has turned into a stalemate. US President Donald Trump has said since the start of his presidency that he wants troops out of the country where Washington has spent more than $1 trillion on military operations and reconstruction since 2001. In return for the US departure, the Taliban would commit to various security guarantees, including that the Islamist hardliners who long harboured Al-Qaeda would not allow Afghanistan to once again become a jihadist haven. On Friday, Ahmadullah Azkhundzada, brother of Afghan Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada, was among four people killed in a blast at a mosque in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan, a senior official with the provincial government said.

Many feared dead as bomb rips through wedding party in Afghanistan's Kabul

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