Two terrorist attacks claimed the lives of 25 people in Afghanistan Saturday at a time when the capital city of Kabul was attempting to hold peace talks with the Taliban.
One attacker came on foot and blew himself up near the Afghan Defense Ministry in Kabul as offices were closing for the day. "Twelve people, including two Afghan soldiers were killed and eight others injured," the ministry said in a statement, according to AFP. Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi had stated earlier that nine people had been killed and 13 wounded,
"I wanted to cross the bridge when I heard an explosion. I went to the area and saw as many as 30 people killed and wounded. There were damaged cars and shattered windows everywhere," eyewitness Zulgai said, reported Reuters.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack in an email sent to media, reported ABC News. He also claimed that there were no civilian casualties, and the attack had left 23 officers dead, injuring 29 others.
The attack follows right after a tribal elder and militia commander named Haji Khan Jan was killed in the town of Asadabad, the provincial capital of Kunar.
Provincial police chief Gen. Abdul Habib Sayedkhaili said that a bomber rode up on a motorcycle and blew himself up, killing about 10 people and wounding at least 40 others, according to ABC News.
"Most of the victims were civilians and children who were either passing by or playing in the park," Provincial Governor Wahidullah Kalimzai said.
While no group has claimed responsibility for the Asadabad attack yet, Jan had previously been involved in anti-Taliban ventures.
