KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A roadside bomb exploded in Afghanistan’s capital Sunday, killing not less than three individuals in a automobile. It was the most recent assault to happen as authorities negotiators in Qatar resume peace talks with the Taliban.
Tariq Arian, spokesman for the inside minister, stated a spokesman for the ministry’s public safety forces — a safety power — was one of many three killed within the assault. One different individual was wounded he stated.
Nobody instantly claimed accountability.
The Islamic State group has claimed accountability for a number of assaults within the capital in latest months, together with on instructional establishments that killed 50 individuals, most of them college students. IS has claimed accountability for rocket assaults in December concentrating on the foremost U.S. base in Afghanistan. There have been no casualties.
Taliban militants have in the meantime continued their insurgency in opposition to authorities forces whereas maintaining their promise to not assault U.S. and NATO troops.
Sunday’s assault comes as Afghan negotiators are to renew talks with the Taliban aimed toward ending many years of relentless battle. Frustration and concern have grown over a spike in violence and each side are blaming one another.
The stop-and-go talks between the Taliban and the federal government come amid rising doubt over a U.S.-Taliban peace deal brokered by outgoing President Donald Trump’s administration. An accelerated withdrawal of U.S. troops ordered by Trump means simply 2,500 American troopers will nonetheless be in Afghanistan when President-elect Joe Biden takes workplace on Jan. 20.
Biden has advocated for maintaining a small intelligence-based presence in Afghanistan, however Taliban leaders have flatly rejected any overseas troops.
The assault comes after an airstrike Saturday that killed not less than 12 civilians in western Nimroz province of Afghanistan, the officers stated.
Nimroz provincial council chief Baz Mohammad Naser stated Sunday that the victims are members of two households.
One of many victims of the airstrike who was wounded is hospitalized, stated Nasir Ahmad Hebat, the provincial well being division chief.
The Afghan protection ministry stated in an announcement that nationwide protection and safety forces performed an operation on a verify publish of the Taliban positioned on the western freeway the place the rebel group was “gathering extortion cash from individuals.” The airstrike was carried out to assist the operation, the assertion stated.
In accordance with the assertion, the Afghan protection ministry will examine the civilian casualties.
A U.S.-based institute warned in December that there was a dramatic enhance in airstrikes performed by Afghan authorities forces from July to September in 2020, assaults which have led to a pointy rise in civilian casualties.
The Watson Institute of Worldwide and Public Affairs, a analysis middle at Brown College, stated in its report that 70 Afghan civilians have been killed within the third quarter of final yr, in comparison with 86 killed within the first six months of 2020.
In its report, the institute additionally stated that from 2017 via 2019, civilian deaths attributable to U.S. and allied forces’ airstrikes in Afghanistan dramatically elevated. In 2019, airstrikes killed 700 civilians — extra civilians than in some other yr because the starting of the warfare in 2001 and 2002.
Copyright 2021 The Related Press. All rights reserved. This materials might not be revealed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed with out permission.
