A blast has occurred near Pashtunistan Square in Kabul’s city centre, the TOLO news broadcaster reported on Monday, adding that it was allegedly carried out by a suicide bomber. According to the broadcaster 1TV, the Daesh* terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Following the explosion, an Interior Ministry spokesman told the 1TV that there are casualties, but the exact number of the casualties is currently unknown. The ministry later confirmed that at least 10 people had been killed and injured in the attack. At the same time, according to the Pajhwok news agency, 8 were killed and 6 more — wounded in the explosion.
"I took four bodies away but there were more on the ground," Kabul police spokesman Basir Mujahid said.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the area to protest against the Taliban threats in Ghazni and Uruzgan provinces.
In the meantime, at least 29 police officers and nine civilians were killed in an attack by the radical Taliban movement in the western Farah province, 1TV reported, citing local police chief.
The blast and clashes occurred as US special envoy Zakmay Khalilzad prepared to carry out a new round of meetings in order to commence a negotiation process with the Taliban and settle the situation in the war-torn country.
*Daesh, also known as IS/ISIS/ISIL/Islamic State, and Taliban are terrorist groups, banned in Russia