KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — At least four people were killed when a suicide bomber detonated an explosives laden vehicle in the capital Kabul on Monday, according to a security official.

Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said that around 90 others were wounded when the explosion took place near the Green Village compound, home to several international organizations as well as non-governmental organizations in Kabul's Police District Nine (PD9).

Danish added that three military personnel and one civilian were killed in the attack.

Twelve women, 23 children and 55 men were wounded in the evening blast, said Danish. "Dozens of civilian homes were damaged as a result of the strong blast," he added.

Health Ministry spokesman Wahidullah Mayar also said that around 90 people, mostly civilians, were wounded and taken to hospitals in the capital.

The blast occurred between the Green Village and the country's customs department, all roads to the area were blocked by security forces and an investigation has been launched to assess the damage caused by the explosion, according to the office of Kabul's police chief.

So far, there has been no claim of responsibility for attack, but both the Taliban and the Islamic state group have previously claimed attacks in the capital. Taliban insurgents have recently been carrying out near-daily attacks targeting Afghan forces.

The violence comes despite stepped-up efforts by the United States to find a negotiated end to the country's 17-year war. </s> KABUL, Afghanistan — As the Taliban opened a new front this week in the Afghan war by attacking American-backed aid organizations in Kabul, negotiators for the group and the United States were meeting in a new round of talks on ending the war.

The Taliban has struck aid organizations sparingly in the past, making the attacks on Wednesday at the offices of CARE and Counterpart International even more stark. At least nine people were killed and 20 others wounded, Afghan officials confirmed. The death toll was nearly double initial reports.

A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, was quick to claim responsibility for the attack and to offer an explanation on Twitter: Counterpart International, which works largely on civic engagement projects, is American led and is financed primarily by the United States Agency for International Development.

But neither Taliban nor American negotiators commented on the inherent contradiction in talking peace while attacking civilian targets. The Taliban had rejected pleas by the Afghan government and the Americans for a cease-fire during Ramadan, but they had promised to avoid civilian targets during the holy month. </s> KABUL — A deadly Taliban attack on U.S.-based aid group in the Afghan capital has raised concerns among other relief organizations that they could be targeted.

Authorities say Wednesday’s assault on Counterpart International in Kabul killed at least nine people as insurgents set off a huge explosion and battled security forces for over six hours. Those killed included three Afghan employees of the organization and two of its security guards.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Thursday they had targeted the organization because Counterpart International promotes “Western culture,” including encouraging the mixing of the genders — something that is taboo to the Taliban.

Mujahid claimed the organization was also training Afghan security forces, without elaborating.

The attack came as the Taliban hold peace talks with the U.S. in Qatar. </s> KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A deadly Taliban attack on U.S.-based aid group in the Afghan capital has raised concerns among other relief organizations that they could be targeted.

Authorities say Wednesday's assault on Counterpart International in Kabul killed at least nine people as insurgents set off a huge explosion and battled security forces for over six hours. Those killed included three Afghan employees of the organization and two of its security guards.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Thursday they had targeted the organization because Counterpart International promotes "Western culture," including encouraging the mixing of the genders — something that is taboo to the Taliban.

Mujahid claimed the organization was also training Afghan security forces, without elaborating.

The attack came as the Taliban hold peace talks with the U.S. in Qatar. </s> KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A deadly Taliban attack on U.S.-based aid group in the Afghan capital has raised concerns among other relief organizations that they could be targeted.

Authorities say Wednesday’s assault on Counterpart International in Kabul killed at least nine people as insurgents set off a huge explosion and battled security forces for over six hours. Those killed included three Afghan employees of the organization and two of its security guards.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Thursday they had targeted the organization because Counterpart International promotes “Western culture,” including encouraging the mixing of the genders — something that is taboo to the Taliban.

Mujahid claimed the organization was also training Afghan security forces, without elaborating.

The attack came as the Taliban hold peace talks with the U.S. in Qatar. </s> KABUL, Afghanistan — A deadly Taliban attack on U.S.-based aid group in the Afghan capital has raised concerns among other relief organizations that they could be targeted.

Authorities say Wednesday’s assault on Counterpart International in Kabul killed at least nine people as insurgents set off a huge explosion and battled security forces for over six hours. Those killed included three Afghan employees of the organization and two of its security guards.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Thursday they had targeted the organization because Counterpart International promotes “Western culture,” including encouraging the mixing of the genders — something that is taboo to the Taliban.

Mujahid claimed the organization was also training Afghan security forces, without elaborating.

The attack came as the Taliban hold peace talks with the U.S. in Qatar.

Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. </s> A deadly Taliban attack on U.S.-based aid group in the Afghan capital has raised concerns among other relief organizations that they could be targeted.

Authorities say Wednesday's assault on Counterpart International in Kabul killed at least nine people as insurgents set off a huge explosion and battled security forces for over six hours. Those killed included three Afghan employees of the organization and two of its security guards.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Thursday they had targeted the organization because Counterpart International promotes "Western culture," including encouraging the mixing of the genders — something that is taboo to the Taliban.

Mujahid claimed the organization was also training Afghan security forces, without elaborating.

The attack came as the Taliban hold peace talks with the U.S. in Qatar. </s> ISLAMABAD — Afghan officials say a car bomb-and-gun attack has targeted a U.S.-funded international relief organization in Kabul, causing casualties.

Rescue workers transported at least nine injured to city hospitals Wednesday, but there were no immediate reports of death.

The Interior Ministry said the non-profit group Counterpart International, which is a partner of the U.S. Agency for International Development, was under attack in the upscale Shahri Naw part of the capital city.

Afghan police and military commandos quickly surrounded the building and engaged the assailants.

Officials said 150 staff members were rescued, while efforts to secure others were underway.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

The insurgent raid began just before noon with a car bomb explosion at the entrance gate before several gunmen stormed the office building, said Nasrat Rahimi, an interior ministry spokesman.

There was no immediate response to the attack from the U.S.-financed Counterpart International.The aid group has been operating in Afghanistan since 2005 on civic engagement projects, according to its website.

“In all our programs, we bring marginalized people into civic life, supporting their ability to influence decisions that affect their lives,” says Counterpart in its mission statement posted on its website.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid accused the aid group of conducting “harmful” activities inside Afghanistan.”Counterpart implemented a dangerous program termed ‘Angel’ aimed at promoting open inter-mixing between men and women,” Mujahid alleged in a statement sent to reporters.He accuses the aid group of employing “40-50 foreign advisors” workingin various aspects of brutality, oppression, terror, anti-Islamic ideology and promotion of Western culture.

U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan John Bass strongly condemned the Taliban attack.

“The targeted organization helps local communities, trains journalists and supports the Afghan people.For this, it is the target of senseless violence.Thanks to Afghan Security Forces for rapid response,” Bass said.

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan also denounced as deplorable the “deliberated targeting of the civilian aid organization” by the insurgents.

The Taliban continues to carry out deadly attacks, despite cease-fire appeals by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and the United States during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which began Monday.

The insurgent group has justified its violent campaign, saying under Islamic traditions “the blessed month of Ramadan is prime opportunity for jihad [holy war].”

The latest violence comes as a sixth round of peace talks between U.S. and Taliban negotiators is under way in Doha, Qatar, to try to bring an end to the conflict in Afghanistan.The latest round of discussions between the two sides began a week ago, but neither side has reported any significant progress. </s> A British citizen has been killed in an “unprovoked, criminal attack” by the Taliban on a G4S compound in the Afghan capital, the security firm has said.

Wahid Majoroh, Afghanistan’s public health ministry spokesman, said on Thursday that six people were killed, as well as four attackers, with dozens more left injured.

The incident, which happened on Wednesday, saw a Taliban suicide bomber detonate explosives as other insurgents battled Afghan forces in Kabul.

Charlie Burbridge, managing director of G4S Risk Management Group, said: “It is with great sadness that we can confirm that five of our employees were killed and 32 were injured – five of them seriously – in an unprovoked, criminal attack on one of our compounds in Kabul.”

The company said four of its employees who died were Afghan nationals, and one was British.

It is understood G4S has been providing security in Afghanistan to a number of bodies including non-governmental organisations and corporate clients since 2003.

The secure compound which was attacked by the Taliban is called Camp Anjuman, and is where the firm runs its security operations from in the central Asian country.

Mr Burbridge said the next of kin of those involved have been informed, adding that the company’s thoughts are with the families of those killed and injured, and with the “brave team in Afghanistan who have lost colleagues and friends”.

He added: “We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the British Embassy, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the British and Afghan armed forces, other Nato forces and other private security companies who have all assisted us as we ensure our operations in Kabul are secure and continue safely.

“We are committed to our security role in support of the people of Afghanistan, and we are determined that incidents such as this will not prevent the vital work that the international community conducts from continuing.”

The Foreign Office said it is aware of the incident and it is working with the authorities to establish further details.

The Taliban carry out near-daily attacks on Afghan security forces.

The latest in Kabul came hours after officials said at least 30 civilians were killed along with 16 Taliban fighters during a battle between government forces and insurgents in southern Helmand province.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban, claimed responsibility for the Kabul attack in a statement posted on Twitter. The group later said it was in response to a US air strike which led to the deaths of civilians and children in the clash in southern Helmand.

The G4S website says it is the largest secure outsourcing company in the UK and Ireland.

“More than 10,000 customers, including 59 FTSE 100 companies, depend on G4S to provide them with a safe and secure way to deliver their services,” it adds.
Nine people were killed after the Taliban launches an attack on the Kabul offices of international non-governmental organization Counterpart International.