At least 5 people killed in blast of Taliban-planted roadside bomb in Afghanistan’s Helmand: Ministry
At least five people have lost their lives after a Taliban-planted roadside bomb went off in Afghanistan’s southern province of Helmand, the defense ministry says.
The deadly incident occurred in Gereshk district on Saturday morning, when a passenger bus hit a roadside bomb, the country’s defense ministry said in a statement, adding that the blast wounded nine other civilians.
The ministry also said that the mine had been planted by the Taliban militant group.
In a similar incident on Friday evening, a passenger bus hit a roadside bomb in Herat-Kandahar highway in Shindand district in the northwestern province of Heart, the provincial public health directorate said, adding that the blast killed at least two civilians and wounding 10 others, including women and children.
According to Jailani Farhad, spokesman for Herat governor, the mine was planted by the Taliban.
Afghanistan sees the recent bloodshed against the backdrop of peace talks that commenced in the Qatari capital of Doha on September 12 following months of delay over a contentious prisoner swap between the two sides.
The peace talks are the result of a deal between the Taliban and the United States signed in February, which also paved the way for the withdrawal of all foreign forces by May next year.
Under the deal with Washington, the Taliban agreed to stop their attacks on US-led foreign forces in return for the US withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and a prisoner swap with the government.
The Afghan government was a party neither to the negotiations nor to the deal, but it has been acting in accordance with its terms, including by agreeing to free the Taliban prisoners.
Official data, however, shows that Taliban bombings and other assaults have increased 70 percent since the militant group signed a deal with Washington.
The US invaded Afghanistan and toppled a Taliban regime in 2001.
Afghan forces arrest 2 Daesh terrorists in province bordering Iran
US drones violate Afghanistan's airspace: Taliban
Over 20 killed in Kandahar bombing blamed on Daesh
Columbia, Yale students bent on ending US support for Israeli genocide
VIDEO | Genocide in Gaza
Iran calls on BRICS to play role in stopping Israeli crimes
President Raeisi’s historic visit opens new chapter in Iran-Pakistan ties
Russia: Poland’s talks on hosting US nuclear weapons ‘dangerous’
VIDEO | Israel’s genocide bounty
India’s home minister vows to end Muslim reservation if his party wins
UN expert calls for arms, oil embargo against Israel
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
