Bomber detonated his explosives-packed vehicle near a crowded market and a mosque in the Urgun district of Paktika province
The death toll from a suicide car bombing in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktika province has climbed to 89, with more than 40 people wounded.
The blast took place on Tuesday when the bomber detonated his explosives-packed vehicle near a crowded market and a mosque in the Urgun district of Paktika province.
Gen Mohammad Zahir Azimi, the Defence Ministry spokesman, said 42 people were wounded in the explosion and some 20 shops were destroyed.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Patika province is located in the southeastern Afghanistan and borders Pakistan.
Earlier, another roadside bomb ripped through a minivan carrying employees of the presidential palace in eastern Kabul on Tuesday, killing two passengers, Afghan officials said.
The explosion struck in the morning hours as the vehicle was taking the palace staffers to work, said Gul Agha Hashimi, the chief of criminal investigations with the Kabul police.
There were seven staffers on board the van, all employees of the palace’s media office.
The blast occurred as the vehicle was passing by several shops and residential homes.
The explosion also wounded five other people inside the minivan, including the driver, said Hashimi, speaking to reporters at the site of the blast. “One passenger survived unharmed,” he added.
Kabul police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai said it was a remotely detonated device planted along the midsection of a main road.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement sent to reporters.
Roadside bombings are a major threat to both Afghan security forces and civilians across the country.
Such attacks have escalated as the Taliban intensify their campaign ahead of the US-led foreign forces’ withdrawal by the end of 2014.
The enemies of peace continue to prey upon innocent lives for the sake of achieving their deadly agenda. As the nation of Afghanistan continues to rebuild and take steps toward a bright future, the terrorists on the other hand are doing everything in their power to halt the progress. So far, terrorists’ attempts to dispirit the nation of Afghanistan have simply failed.
We send our condolences to the friends and families of all those who died in this act of terror. We pray that they will find the strength to get through this tragedy. We remain optimistic in regards to the future of Afghanistan, and have full confidence in ANSF ability to negate the threat of terrorism.
Ali Khan
Digital Engagement Team, USCENTCOM
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