KABUL — Taliban attacks in western Afghanistan killed 14 soldiers andpolicemen on Monday as Kabul residents prepared to bury their loved onesslain in a horrific bombing by the Islamic State group that targeted avoter registration center the day before, killing 57.

The near-simultaneous attacks in western Badghis province, where a largenumber of insurgents attacked army units in the district of Ab Kamari,killing nine soldiers, said Ghulam Sarwar Haidari, the deputy provincialpolice chief.

At the same time, another group of insurgents struck police in Qadisdistrict, killing five policemen. Sharafuddin Majidi, spokesman for theprovincial governor, confirmed the casualty tolls.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed the attacks in Badghis in astatement to the media.

The attacks came on the heels of Sunday’s suicide bombing in Kabul. Thestaggering casualty toll — 57 dead and 119 wounded — underscored thestruggles the government faces to rein in militant assaults even in largeand well-protected urban centers.

The Kabul explosion echoed across the city around 10 a.m., shatteringwindows miles from the attack site, leaving the pavement covered withbodies and blood stains and destroying nearby vehicles.

The bomber targeted civilians who were registering for nationalidentification cards, Kabul police said. The Islamic State group claimedresponsibility for the attack in a statement carried by its Aamaq newsagency, saying it had targeted Shiite “apostates.”

Afghan security forces have struggled to prevent a recent surge in attacksboth by the local Islamic State affiliate as well as the more firmlyestablished Taliban. The attacks increased after the United States and NATOconcluded their combat mission in Afghanistan at the end of 2014.

Both groups regularly carry out attacks, with the Taliban usually targetingthe government and security forces and IS targeting the country’s Shiiteminority.