Two back-to-back explosions in the Afghan capital Kabul late on Tuesdayclaimed the lives of at least 10 people in the area mainly inhabited by theethnic Shi’ite Hazara community, officials confirmed.
According to the Kabul police command, the blasts were caused by improvisedexplosive devices during the evening rush-hour targeting public transportbuses. All of the victims were identified as civilians.
The police spokesman Firdaus Faramarz told Anadolu Agency more than 10people, also civilians, got injured in these blasts in the third districtof the city comprising number of localities in the west of the city.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the incidents.
The attacks on civilians were widely condemned.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said in a statement that the heavycivilian casualties underscore urgent need to reduce the violence forprogress in Afghanistan, peace negotiations and for all parties to do muchmore to protect civilians from harm.
“Many civilians are being killed & injured by indirect fire from both ANA(Afghan National Army) & Taliban. ANA airstrikes & anti-governmentelements’ IEDs also causing many civilian casualties,” it said.
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A Taliban-claimed car bombing in the northern Baghlan province killed atleast four soldiers, officials said on Tuesday.
Taking responsibility for the attack, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahidsaid in a series of tweets that 41 security forces were killed in thatassault.
Also on Tuesday, a minibus carrying security forces in the northern Parwanprovince was hit by a landmine in the provincial capital Charikar, killingat least three of them, confirmed local officials.
Violence has surged in the war-weary country since the US announced itstroops will leave by Sept. 11.
Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry said on Sunday that it has documented 247civilian casualties, allegedly caused by the Taliban in May. Theinsurgents, however, have rejected the government’s claim. Anadolu Agency
