JALALABAD: A suicide bomber drove a vehicle loaded with explosives into abase for Afghan defence forces in the country’s east on Saturday, killingat least eight security personnel in an attack claimed by the Taliban.

The pre-dawn assault took place in the restive province of Nangarhar wherethe Taliban have claimed several deadly assaults targeting governmentforces.

It came two days after the Pentagon said the Taliban were not living up topromises made in a deal signed with Washington last year, includingreducing violence and cutting ties with Al Qaeda.

The eight were killed when the bomber hit the base with a Humvee, theoffice of Nangarhar’s governor said in a statement.

The deputy head of Nangarhar provincial council, Ajmal Omar, confirmed theattack but put the number of dead soldiers at 15 with five wounded.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said his group had carried out theattack.

The governor’s office said security forces had seized another vehicleloaded with explosives near the city of Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar.

Nangarhar province has seen several recent deadly attacks carried out bythe militant Islamic State group.

Separately, two roadside bombs exploded in Kabul on Saturday but there wereno casualties, police said.

Violence has surged across Afghanistan even as the Taliban and governmentengage in peace talks that began in September. The discussions have so farfailed to make any major breakthrough.

The new Biden administration in the United States has accused the Talibanof not reducing violence despite signing a deal with Washington last yearthat stipulated the group do so.

That agreement required the Taliban halt attacks on US forces, sharplydecrease violence and advance peace talks with the government in Kabul.

In return, the United States would steadily reduce its troop levels in thecountry, and remove all forces by May 2021.

But on Thursday the Pentagon said “the Taliban are not meeting theircommitments to reduce violence, and to renounce their ties to Al Qaeda”.

The Biden administration is now reviewing the deal, which the previousTrump government signed with the insurgents in the Qatari capital inFebruary 2020. -APP/AFP