At least 28 killed, over 40 injured in Afghanistan attacks

KABUL - At least 28 people were killed and 40 injured in three separate attacks in Afghanistan’s Kunduz province, Nangarhar province, and in Kabul city on Monday.

In Kabul alone, a suicide bomber killed 13 and wounded more than 25 at the entrance to Afghanistan's Rural Development Ministry, according to Tolo News.

Employees were gathered at the entrance of the compound waiting for a bus to take them home when the suicide bomber blew himself up in the crowd, said rural ministry spokesman Faridoon Azhand, who was inside the building at the time.

Police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai confirmed the attacker had targeted the employees as they waited for the bus at around 1:00 pm (0830 GMT). They were leaving early due to the holy month of Ramazan, when most Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.

The so-called "Islamic State" (ISIS), or commonly called Daesh, claimed the attack via their Amaq propaganda agency.

The attack in the Qala-i-Zal district of northern Kunduz province claimed the lives of some 15 Afghan security personnel, Pajhwork reported. It was reportedly carried out by the Taliban, despite the militants earlier announcing a ceasefire.

A separate blast that rocked a fair in the Chaparhar district of eastern Nangarhar province left at least 14 injured, according to Public Health Director Najibullah Kamawal, as quoted by Pajhwok.

Taliban and IS militants have stepped up their attacks on Kabul in particular in recent years, making it the deadliest place in the country for civilians.

https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/afghanistan-president-ashraf-ghani-announces-ceasefire-with-taliban-for-eidul-fitr/

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday announced security forces would halt hostilities with the Taliban for a week - though he warned that operations against other groups, including IS, would continue.

The ceasefire would last from the "27th of Ramazan until the fifth day of Eid-al-Fitr", he said, indicating it could run from June 12-19.

The Taliban said Saturday their fighters would stop attacking Afghan security forces, but only for the first three days of Eid, the holiday capping Ramazan. They said they would continue attacking US-led NATO troops.

https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/world/22-afghan-servicemen-reportedly-killed-as-taliban-offensive-launched-in-afghanistan/

It is the first time the militants have agreed to suspend fighting since the 2001 US invasion, and the move was largely welcomed by war-weary Afghans.

Both sides have vowed to retaliate if attacked during the ceasefire.