A powerful explosion has rocked the Afghan capital, Kabul, killing at least four people and wounding more than 100, the country's health ministry said.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for Monday's blast near the Green Village compound, which houses several international companies and charities, in eastern Kabul.

Three military personnel were among the dead, Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said. He did not specify what nationality they were.

One Indian national was also killed, India's foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

The Green Village compound is protected by private security forces, and the road outside has a number of Afghan police and military checkpoints and patrols.

"Most of the victims were civilians," said Danish.

Glass shrapnel

Different hospitals in the city treated as many as 113 injured, including 14 women and 24 children, Afghanistan's Public Health Ministry Spokesperson Wahidullah Mayar said.

"Most of them were injured by glass shrapnel injuries, they received required treatment and were discharged," Mayar said.

The explosion took place when a bomb-laden car blew up outside the high-security compound. It sits along the main road that connects Kabul to Jalalabad. The normally busy road was closed for hours.

The area is home to hundreds of local businesses and residential homes.

Local Afghan news website Tolo News posted footage on Twitter that appeared to show ambulances returning from the scene of the explosion.

Footage shows ambulances returning from a blast scene in Kabul's PD9 -- near Green Village compound on Kabul-Jalalabad road. pic.twitter.com/e4KZx3jH3Z — TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) January 14, 2019

Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the Taliban, said the group's fighters were responsible for the attack. He claimed dozens of foreign and Afghan security forces were killed and wounded.

"Five attackers, including the suicide bomber driving an explosives-laden vehicle, were involved in the attack," Mujahid said in a statement.

The Taliban often inflates casualty figures in attacks against Afghan government or foreign targets.

Monday's attack took place as US Peace Envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad tours the region for meetings aimed at bringing an end to the country's 17-year-long war.

Last week, Taliban leaders called off a fourth round of talks with US officials in Qatar because of disagreements over the agenda of the meeting.

The Taliban has rejected numerous requests from regional powers to allow Afghan officials to take part in the peace talks, denouncing the government in Kabul as a "puppet" administration and instead insisting the US is their main adversary in the war in Afghanistan.

A US-led invasion in 2001 toppled the Taliban, Afghanistan's largest armed group, from power.

The group has escalated its attacks on security forces and government facilities in recent months.

The last major attack in the capital took place in late December when 43 people were killed inside a government compound targeted by a suicide bomber and other attackers armed with assault rifles. No group has claimed responsibility for the incident.</s>KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghan officials say at least four people were killed when a Taliban suicide bomber detonated an explosive-laden vehicle in Kabul.

Health Ministry spokesman Wahidullah Mayar says 113 were wounded in Monday evening's attack in the capital.

The blast occurred near the Green Village compound, home to several international organizations. Roads to the area were still blocked by security forces on Tuesday morning.

Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said three military personnel and one civilian were killed in the attack, while 12 women and 23 children were among those wounded.</s>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>The Taliban claimed responsibility on Tuesday for a car bomb attack near a heavily fortified foreign compound in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, that killed at least four people a day earlier.

KABUL: The Taliban claimed responsibility on Tuesday for a car bomb attack near a heavily fortified foreign compound in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, that killed at least four people a day earlier.

More than 90 people were also wounded in the attack near the Green Village compound, which houses several international companies and charities, in eastern Kabul.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Islamist militant group, said Taliban fighters were responsible for the attack in which he claimed dozens of foreign and Afghan security forces were killed and wounded.

"Five attackers, including the suicide bomber driving an explosives-laden vehicle, were involved in the attack," Mujahid said in a statement.

The Taliban often inflate casualty figures in attacks against Afghan government or foreign targets.

The latest attack came as Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. special peace envoy for Afghanistan, tours the region for meetings aimed at bringing an end to a war that has dragged on for more than 17 years.

Fighting has not subsided even as the talks intensify, with the Taliban and other insurgent groups carrying out near-daily attacks, mainly targeting security forces and government officials. Civilians, however, almost invariably bear the brunt of most attacks.</s>According to the information given by the news report, in an incident that took place in Kabul killed at least four people and 100 others got injured after Taliban claimed the responsibility for a truck bomb.

“Based on the initial information in this attack, tens of foreign invading forces and their Afghan supporters were killed,” Mujahid said, without specifying the number of victims.

The Taliban said that after the first explosion, four other suicide bombers entered the area — referred to as “the intelligence nest” — where fighting went on for several hours.

Mujahid said several civilians in nearby houses suffered light injuries due the impact of the explosion but added that “civilians were not the target”.

However, Kabul police spokesperson Basir Mujahid said four persons were killed and 113 wounded in the attack. He denied the Taliban’s version of a clash with suicide bombers after the explosion.

“There was no armed attack by suicide bombers after the first bombing. After the blast, the area was secured by our security forces (…) The situation in the area is normal,” the police official said.

Kabul in recent months has witnessed a large number of attacks against all types of targets, from members of the Shia minority to workers involved in the October 20 parliamentary elections along with candidates and voters.

The last such attack happened in late December on a government building which left 48 dead.

Since the end of the NATO combat mission in January 2015, the Afghan government has been losing ground to the Taliban.

The government barely controls 56 per cent of the country, according to data from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction of the US Congress.</s>KABUL, Jan 15 — The Taliban claimed responsibility today for a car bomb attack near a heavily fortified foreign compound in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, that killed at least four people yesterday.

More than 90 people were also wounded in the attack near the Green Village compound, which houses several international companies and charities, in eastern Kabul.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Islamist militant group, said Taliban fighters were responsible for the attack in which he claimed dozens of foreign and Afghan security forces were killed and wounded.

“Five attackers, including the suicide bomber driving an explosives-laden vehicle, were involved in the attack,” Mujahid said in a statement.

The Taliban often inflate casualty figures in attacks against Afghan government or foreign targets.

The latest attack came as Zalmay Khalilzad, the US special peace envoy for Afghanistan, tours the region for meetings aimed at bringing an end to a war that has dragged on for more than 17 years.

Fighting has not subsided even as the talks intensify, with the Taliban and other insurgent groups carrying out near-daily attacks, mainly targeting security forces and government officials. Civilians, however, almost invariably bear the brunt of most attacks. — Reuters</s>KABUL—A car bomb exploded near a heavily fortified complex in eastern Kabul frequented by foreigners, killing four people and wounding 90 others, authorities said, as the U.S. pressed to get negotiations under way to end the 17-year war.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Monday’s blast. The Taliban and Islamic State, Afghanistan two largest militant groups, have been carrying out almost-daily attacks across the country against government forces and installations.</s>KABUL — At least four people were killed and more than 90 were wounded when a car bomb exploded near a foreign compound in the east of Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, on January 14, officials said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said the blast had targeted Green Village, where some foreign NGOs and workers used to be based.

Twenty-three children are among the injured, the ministry’s deputy spokesman, Nasrat Rahimi, said.

Until recently, some UN staff lived and worked at the compound, but Danish said the area was now largely empty and “only a number of guards” were left.

“Residential buildings nearby have sustained heavy damage,” he said. “Special police force units have been deployed to the site to check if there are more attackers.”

The latest attack comes as U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad is touring the region for meetings aimed at bringing an end to the 17-year war in Afghanistan.

Khalilzad, who met Taliban representatives last month in Abu Dhabi, is traveling to Afghanistan as well as China, India, and Pakistan on a trip lasting through January 21.

Last month’s leaking of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to reduce troop numbers in Afghanistan, however, has threatened to derail peace efforts and alarmed many Afghans.

The Taliban controls or contests nearly half of Afghanistan, where it is waging a deadly insurgency against the Western-backed Kabul government and government security forces.

Last week, Taliban leaders called off a fourth round of talks with U.S. officials in the Arab Gulf state of Qatar due to an “agenda disagreement” and refused to allow what they called “puppet” Afghan government officials to join the talks.

With reporting by AFP, Reuters, and AP

Copyright (c) 2019. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.</s>KABUL - A car packed with explosives blew up near a heavily fortified foreign compound in Kabul on Monday, killing at least four people and wounding more than 90, officials said, in the latest deadly attack to rock the Afghan capital.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the huge blast, which shook the sprawling city, but it comes as diplomatic efforts to end the 17-year war with the Taliban gather pace.

The explosion happened near Green Village, a highly secure compound close to a busy road and residential neighbourhoods in the east of the city.

So far, four people had been confirmed dead and more than 90 wounded, including 23 children, interior ministry deputy spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said.

There are fears the toll could rise.

Three of the dead were members of the security forces and one was a civilian. Most of the wounded were civilians, who have long borne the brunt of the Afghan war.

Until recently some UN staff had lived and worked at the compound, which is protected by cement blast walls, but Danish said the area was now largely empty and "only a number of guards" were left.

"Special police forces' units have been deployed to the site to check if there are more attackers."

Afghanistan's customs office and headquarters for the Independent Election Commission, which has previously been targeted by militants, are also nearby.

The explosion happened in the early evening when traffic is normally heavy.

The last assault on a foreign compound was in late November when a Taliban-claimed vehicle bomb exploded outside the compound of British security firm G4S, killing at least 10 people.

Five G4S employees were among the dead.

That was followed by a suicide and gun attack on a government compound in Kabul on 24 December that killed at least 43 people, making it one of the deadliest assaults on the city last year.

The latest bombing comes as US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad visits the region for further meetings aimed at bringing an end to the war in Afghanistan, which by some estimates was the world's deadliest conflict zone in 2018.

Khalilzad, who met Taliban representatives last month in Abu Dhabi, is travelling to Afghanistan as well as China, India and Pakistan on the trip lasting through 21 January.

Last month's leaking of US President Donald Trump's plan to slash troop numbers in Afghanistan, however, has threatened to derail those efforts and alarmed many Afghans who fear a return to oppressive Taliban rule.

The recent flurry of activity to get the Taliban to the negotiating table has caused disquiet in Afghanistan, with the government feeling sidelined from the discussions.

The Taliban has repeatedly refused to talk to Kabul, which it sees as a US puppet and ineffective.

Afghan security advisor Hamdullah Mohib is touring the region for talks with key powers, including China.</s>Kabul: A car bomb exploded near a foreign compound in the east of Kabul on Monday, wounding more than 40 people, officials said, in the latest attack to rock the Afghan capital. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said the blast had targeted Green Village, where some foreign workers are based. Health ministry spokesman Wahidullah Mayar said on Twitter that “more than 40 people are wounded”.

Until recently some UN staff lived and worked at the compound, but Danish said the area was now largely empty and “only a number of guards” were left.

“Special police forces’ units have been deployed to the site to check if there are more attackers.”

The latest attack comes as US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad visits the region for meetings aimed at bringing an end to the war in Afghanistan, which by some estimates was the world’s deadliest conflict zone in 2018.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
A suicide bomber kills four people and wounds over 100 others in a car bomb attack in Kabul, Afghanistan.