Explosion Rocks Afghan City of Jalalabad, Killing 17 and Injuring 30 (PHOTO)

The number of those killed in a blast that hit Afghanistan’s eastern city of Jalalabad rose to 17, while 30 suffered various injures, 1TV broadcaster reported.

Previously, governor's spokesperson Attaullah Khogyani reported that four people were killed and 10 injured after a powerful blast.

As a result of the explosion, several buildings around Mukhaberat square were damaged, the spokesman said.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

Earlier in the day, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani paid a visit to Jalalabad, where he gave a speech in which the president confirmed the government's readiness to negotiate with the radical Taliban movement.

Taliban Militants Kill 4, Abduct 33 People After Ceasefire Ends - Reports

22 June 2018, 11:49 GMT

The blast took place a day after Afghanistan's president, Ashraf Ghani, had declared the end of a truce with the Taliban movement, with the country's armed forces resuming their operations against the militants. Later that day, the Tolo news broadcaster reported that at least 12 Taliban militants were killed and 18 more injured in an airstrike conducted by the Afghan Air Force in the country's northwestern Badghis province.

Afghanistan is in a state of political and social turmoil, with government forces fighting against a Taliban insurgency and other radical groups acting in the country.