*KABUL – Dozens of passengers, mainly women and children, were killed inwestern Afghanistan early Wednesday when the bus they were travelling inhit a roadside bomb, officials said.*
The attack, which came one day after the United Nations said civilians arebeing killed and wounded at a “shocking” level in Afghanistan’s war,occurred around 6:00 am (0130 GMT), authorities said.
“A passenger bus travelling on the Kandahar-Herat highway hit a Talibanroadside bomb. So far at least 28 killed, 10 wounded,” said MuhibullahMuhib, the spokesman for Farah province.
All were civilians, mostly women and children, he said. Farooq Barakzai, aspokesman for Farah’s governor, confirmed the toll but warned it may risehigher.
There was no immediate confirmation from the Taliban that it was behind theblast.
The group, which has resurged since its regime was toppled by the USinvasion in 2001, made a vague pledge this month to reduce civiliancasualties.
Civilians have long paid a disproportionate price in the nearly 18 yearssince the US invaded Afghanistan.
On Tuesday, the UN released a report showing that casualties have dropped27 percent in the first half of 2019 compared to the same period last year,which was a record — but nonetheless 1,366 civilians were killed andanother 2,446 injured.
Child casualties represented almost a third of the overall total ofcivilian casualties.
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The UN also said that US and pro-government forces caused more civiliandeaths than the Taliban and other insurgent groups for the second quarterrunning.
It branded efforts to reduce the violence “insufficient”.
The bloodshed is expected to rise after the launch this week of officialcampaigning in Afghanistan’s presidential election, set for September 28.
At least 20 people were killed on Sunday, the first official day of thecampaign, and 50 wounded when a suicide attacker and gunmen targeted theKabul office of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s running mate, AmrullahSaleh.
There are also doubts the election will happen at all, with lingeringquestions about whether Afghanistan should hold a key poll amid amonths-long, US-led push to forge a peace deal with the Taliban.
This week US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that President DonaldTrump wants to begin withdrawing troops before the vote, though heemphasised in comments to reporters Tuesday that there is “no deadline”.
But the push has ignited widespread concern among Afghans that inWashington’s rush to exit its longest war the Taliban will be returned tosome semblance of power. -APP/AFP
