Taliban militants claim car bombing in east Afghanistan
Members of the Taliban militant group have claimed responsibility for a recent car bomb attack in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Logar, which caused a number of casualties, Press TV reports.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said a bomber, driving an explosive-laden tanker, rammed the vehicle into the office of the army’s rapid reaction force in the provincial capital city of Pul-i-Alam, located 60 kilometers (37 miles) east of the capital, Kabul, at around 7 a.m. local time (0230 GMT) on Thursday.
He further claimed that nearly 100 people were killed and injured in the attack.
Afghan authorities, however, have said that the act of terror left six people dead and injured ten others.
However, Hassib Stanikzai, the head of the Logar Provincial Council, said three civilians and as many army troopers were killed in the blast.
He added that the force of the explosion damaged several nearby houses and buildings, including the Provincial Council building.
Afghanistan faces a security challenge years after the United States and its allies invaded the country in 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed Taliban from power, but many areas in the country are still beset by insecurity.
Peace talks between the Afghan government and Taliban militants were effectively halted last week when the death of the militant group’s leader, Mullah Omar, was confirmed and Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour was appointed as his successor.
Some members of the Taliban, including Mullah Omar’s son, Yacoub, and the former leader’s brother, Mullah Abdul Manan, have voiced opposition to the appointment of Mansour and requested a new vote.
Under the current circumstances, the future of the peace talks under the group’s new leadership remains difficult to predict. The recent terrorist attack, now claimed by Taliban, is only certain to further complicate the prospects for the peace talks.
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