Rockets land near Afghan parliament in Kabul

Kabul: A huge explosion took place on Monday as a rocket landed near the Afghan parliament building, a media report said.

The blast took place when senior security officials were on way towards the building to brief lawmakers, Khaama Press reported.

"Some three rockets landed near new parliament building around 10.15 a.m. (local time). At least one rocket struck the building's yard, sending up a black smoke in the air," Xinhua news agency quoted an eye witness as saying.

The rocket caused a hole in the stricken building and smashed windowpanes of the building, a security source said.

"We still cannot provide details on casualties. But the initial investigation found no one was injured in the attack," he said.

More details would be provided as an investigation was launched into the attack, the source added.

The members of the Wolesi Jirga, the lower house of parliament, were holding a meeting when the attack took place.

The Taliban militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Violence has been on the rise in Afghanistan since the drawdown of the US-led NATO forces over the past two years as the Afghan security forces struggle against a surge in attacks by anti-government fighters.

The NATO and US forces completed their combat mission in Afghanistan by the end of 2014, after 13 years of military presence in the mountainous Asian country, beleagured with wars and strife for over three decades.