Taliban suicide bombing in Kabul kills 10

The picture has been used for representational purposes

At least 10 civilians were killed and dozens wounded after a Taliban suicide bomber driving an explosives-laden car blew himself up near a heavily-guarded government office complex in the centre of Afghan capital on Thursday, officials were quoted by IANS.

The bombing took place in a high security zone that houses several government offices, including the headquarters of Afghanistan's primary intelligence agency - the National Directorate of Security.

Interior Ministry spokesperson Nasrat Rahimi said the blast that took place at 10.10 a.m. in Shashdarak area of Kabul killed 10 civilians and injured 42 others. Some 12 private vehicles were also destroyed in the powerful explosion, Efe news was quoted by IANS.

An official at the Public Health Ministry informed that five bodies were brought to hospitals. "The (figures) may change as the evacuation still continues," said the official, requesting anonymity.

Also Read: 'US, Taliban on threshold of deal to end 18-year conflict'

The Taliban insurgent group reportedly claimed the Kabul attack, saying the suicide bombing targeted a convoy of "foreign invaders" going to the NDS office. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted that three Land Cruisers were "completely damaged" in the attack that killed "12 foreign invaders and eight NDS soldiers".

The explosion comes as the US and the Taliban are believed to have finalized in principle an agreement for peace in Afghanistan after a year of negotiations to end the 18-year old war.

Kabul Police spokesperson Firdaws Faramarz was quoted by IANS, saying that the attack "caused casualties to civilians and damaged several cars on the road", but he didn't give specific figures.

The attack follows Monday's Taliban suicide bombing when a tractor laden with explosives was detonated near a heavily-guarded residential complex in the Afghan capital that mostly houses foreigners. At least 21 people were killed and nearly 119 were injured.

The Taliban called the area a "nest of foreign invaders". That attack took place hours after US special envoy for peace in Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad shared with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani a draft accord with the Taliban after several months of peace talks in Qatar.

With inputs from IANS

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates