Afghanistan | 3 killed in bombing attack near Kabul

Defence Redefined

05/04/2021

A bomb explosion near Kabul on Sunday killed at least three members of the Afghan security forces and injured twelve more, officials said. Responsibility for the explosion was claimed by Taliban insurgents.

Although attacks continue unabated in Afghanistan, the Taliban have rarely claimed responsibility for them since formal peace talks began with the government, following an agreement with the US government in 2020.

Kabul police spokesman Ferdows Faramarz confirmed the bombing death toll in Kabul’s Pagman district and added that it may rise.

The Taliban said in a statement that a total of 45 members of the Afghan security forces had been killed or wounded in the blast.

Also read: NATO mission expected to continue in Afghanistan

The Islamist rebel movement has also warned against the continuation of – what it called – incessant airstrikes in various parts of Afghanistan, stressing that they are violating the agreement they signed with the United States.

The agreement, signed by the Taliban with the previous US administration of Donald Trump, provided for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from the country of Southeast Asia by May 1 in exchange for the rebels’ guarantees and the start of peace talks with the Afghan government, which is mainly supported by the USA.

Yesterday’s attack was carried out while Washington is trying to speed up the peace negotiations, which are unfolding at a very slow pace. Joe Biden’s government has proposed a summit to be held in Turkey in April and the formation of a transitional Afghan government that will include Taliban representatives.

Western governments have called for Islamist insurgents to declare a ceasefire and state that meeting the May 1 withdrawal deadline will not be realized unless violence in Afghanistan is reduced.

Last month, the Taliban threatened to re-target foreign troops if the agreed withdrawal deadline was not met.

Also read: Afghanistan | Taliban abduct at least 20 civilians

Source: ΑΝΑ MPA