KHOST: A Taliban car bomber killed 13 people in Afghanistan’s Khost city on Saturday, in the first major attack at the start of the holy month of Ramazan that targeted a CIA-funded militia group.

The powerful explosion in the eastern Afghan city, which also wounded six people including children, left the area littered with charred debris, shattered glass and mangled vehicles.

It is the latest in a series of assaults on Western-backed forces as the Taliban step up their annual spring offensive and the insurgency expands more than 15 years after they were ousted from power in a US-led invasion. "A suicide car bomb in Khost province has killed 13 people," said interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish. "The target was a public bus station which was hit by the bombing. The victims were in civilian clothes and it is difficult to verify their identities."

But provincial police chief Faizullah Ghairat said members of the elite Khost Provincial Force (KPF) -- known to be paid and equipped by the American CIA -- were the target of the attack. "The bombing took place early morning when KPF members were heading to work," Ghairat said. "But most of the victims are civilians."

The KPF, estimated to have around 4,000 fighters, are believed to operate a shadow war against the Taliban in a province that borders Pakistan and are accused of torture and extrajudicial killings.

The brazen attack, claimed by the Taliban on their website, comes just a day after at least 15 Afghan soldiers were killed when insurgents attacked their base in Kandahar, in the third major assault this week on the military in the southern province.</s>At least 18 people, mostly civilians, were killed when a suicide car bomber targeted a convoy of provincial security forces in eastern Afghanistan, an Interior Ministry official said.

Najib Danish, the ministry’s deputy spokesman, said the target of the bomber was a group of guards providing security for US forces in Khost province, but most of the victims were civilians.

No group immediately claimed responsibility, but Taliban insurgents have increased their attacks against Afghan security forces since announcing their spring offensive last month.

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The security forces were attacked near the province’s main bus station, said Mr Danish. “Six other civilians including two small children were wounded in the attack,” he added.

The attack, which took place on a road between a bus station and the provincial football stadium, damaged or destroyed about a dozen shops and several vehicles.

The attack came on the first day of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month.

Mubariz Zadran, a spokesman for the provincial governor in Khost, said the casualty number could rise because some of the wounded were in a critical condition.

AP</s>The attack comes a day after at least 15 Afghan soldiers were killed when Taliban fighters attacked their base in Kandahar.

The attack comes on the first day of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month. (Photo: Representational/AP)

Khost (Afghanistan): A suicide car bomber killed 18 people in the eastern Afghan city of Khost on Saturday, the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, the interior ministry said.

Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said a public bus station was hit by the bombing, but local police said the target were Afghan security forces working with American troops in the province.

"A suicide car bomb in Khost province has killed 18 people and wounded six others, including two children," Danish said.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the Kandahar attack, but it comes as Taliban insurgents step up their annual spring offensive.

The attack comes a day after at least 15 Afghan soldiers were killed when Taliban fighters attacked their base in Kandahar, in the third major insurgent assault this week on the military in the southern province.

The attacks mark another stinging blow for NATO-backed Afghan forces.

The battlefield losses have raised concerns about the capacity of Afghan forces, beset by unprecedented casualties and blamed for corruption, desertion and "ghost soldiers" who exist on the payroll but whose salaries are usurped by fraudulent commanders.

During another deadly Taliban attack on security outposts in southern Zabul province on Sunday, local officials made desperate calls to Afghan television stations to seek attention because they were unable to contact senior authorities for help.

The pleas for attention, a major embarrassment for the Western-backed government, highlighted the disarray in security ranks.

The Taliban launched their annual "spring offensive" in late April, heralding a surge in fighting as the US tries to craft a new Afghan strategy.

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis last month warned of "another tough year" for security forces in Afghanistan.

The United States and several NATO allies are considering sending thousands more troops to break the stalemate against the resurgent militants.</s>At least 18 people were killed in a suicide car bomb attack in Afghanistan’s Khost province on Saturday – the first day of Islam’s holy month of Ramadan, Al Jazeera reported. The Taliban has claimed the attack which took place at around 8.30 am on Saturday morning near a bus station and a football field close to a military base in Khost.

“The target of the attack was Afghan police and the United States forces, but most of the victims were civilians,” Mubariz Zadran, spokesperson for the governor of Khost province told Al Jazeera.

The target of the attack was the Khost Provincial Force which is estimated to have around 4,000 fighters operating against the Taliban along the Pakistan border.

Meanwhile, at least 22 militants, six officers and right civilians were killed in Badges on Saturday during clashes between the militants and security forces, reported Reuters. At least 50, including militants and civilians, were left injured in the firing.

The attack comes two days after at least 15 soldiers died in an attack by Taliban in Kandahar in Afghanistan. In the last one week, over 60 security personnel have lost their lives in the various attacks in the country. Last month, the Taliban had killed 140 military men near an Afghan military base in Mazar-e-Sharif.</s>At least 18 people were killed and six others injured in a car bomb explosion in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday morning, authorities said.

The attack occurred near a bus station in the city of Khost, said Najib Danish, spokesman for the interior ministry.

There has been no claim of responsibility.

Developing story - more to come</s>At least 18 people killed in a suicide car bomb attack in a crowded area of the eastern city of Khost.

A suicide car bomber has attacked Afghan police providing security to US forces in eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 18 people, government officials said.

The bombing took place around 8:30am (04:00 GMT) on Saturday near a stadium and bus station in Khost City, Mubariz Zadran, a spokesman for the governor of Khost province, told Al Jazeera.

"Eighteen people were killed and 10 people injured, including two children," Zadran said. "The target of the attack was Afghan police and US forces, but most of the victims were civilians."

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing.

Saturday was a public holiday in Afghanistan as it marked the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

In clear defiance to a call by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan for a ceasefire during Ramadan, the Taliban announced on Friday they would intensify their attacks during the month.

Separately, 10 civilians, including women and children, were killed and six others were wounded when a minibus hit a roadside bomb in Afghanistan's western Herat province on Friday.

The incident took place in Adraskan district of Herat on Friday morning, Abdul Ahad Walizada, a spokesman for the Herat provincial police, said on Saturday.</s>At least 18 people were killed and six others were injured Saturday in a car bomb explosion in eastern Afghanistan, CNN reported Saturday.

The attack occurred near a bus station in the city of Khost, said Najib Danish, spokesman for the interior ministry.

There has been no claim of responsibility.</s>A suicide car bomber targeted vehicles belonging to members of the local police force campaign in Khost province, Afghanistan today, local officials said, reported TOLO News.

The local police force campaign members fall under the U.S-Forces.

The Ministry of Interior confirmed the incident and said a it had been a suicide car bombing at a bus terminal in Khost city.

The incident occurred at about 08:30 am local time.

In addition to the 18 killed, six were wounded including at least two children, the MoI said.

The provincial governor's spokesman Mubariz Zadran said the explosion took place in the Mujahid square area in Khost.

So far no group including the Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.</s>Khost: A suicide car bomber killed 18 people in the eastern Afghan city of Khost today, the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, the interior ministry said.

"A suicide car bomb in Khost province has killed 18 people and wounded six others, including two children," ministry spokesman Najib Danish said on Twitter.</s>At least 18 persons were killed when a suicide car bombing struck a crowded area in Afghanistan’s Khost city on Saturday, an official said.

Ten security guards and eight civilians were among the dead in the attack that targeted local off-duty security guards, known as Campaign Forces, Xinhua news agency quoted the security official as saying.

The blast took place near a taxi station where the guards arrived to go to Camp Chapman, a military base run by the US and NATO forces, he said.

Police chief General Faizullah Ghairat said the police have launched an investigation into the incident that also left about six persons injured in the attack in Khost, capital of Khost province bordering Pakistan.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

The attack came as Afghans mark the first day of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, during which the faithful fast from dawn to dusk.
At least 18 people are killed and 6 others injured in a car bomb explosion in Khost, eastern Afghanistan.