A suicide attack carried out by a auto bomber on the Indian embassy kills at least 60 people, including two senior diplomats and two guards.
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Officials said the attackers reportedly targeted the Spanish embassy and had entered a building near the compound.
The Spanish embassy was earlier reported to be the target of the attack, but Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy clarified that the assault was nearby and not on the compound.
“A vehicle bomb was detonated by a terrorist near the gate of a guest-house belonging to Spanish Embassy at around 5.40 pm (local time) in Shairpoor locality”.
Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack in an email sent to media outlets.
The powerful UN Security Council (UNSC) has strongly condemned the terrorist attack in the vicinity of Spanish Embassy and expressed serious concern about threats posed by Taliban, Al Qaeda and Daesh affiliates in Afghanistan.
Twelve people staying at the guest house in the wealthy enclave of Sherpur were rescued, officials said, without confirming their nationalities.
It followed an insurgent attack on an airport complex in the southern city of Kandahar that killed 50 civilians and security forces personnel, and which was only suppressed after more than a day of fighting. He stated it was an attack against some guest houses very near the embassy. It was not clear if they were among the four dead Afghan policemen.
“Or that they are keen to wrangle big concessions from Kabul before they come to the negotiating table”.
The head of the intelligence services, who strongly opposed Ghani’s bid to involve Pakistan in the peace process, resigned on Thursday, highlighting divisions in the national security apparatus.
His resignation highlighted the domestic backlash Mr Ghani faces over his attempts to fix strained relations with Islamabad.
The president has staked considerable political capital in advocating bonhomie with Afghanistan’s neighbour.
Earlier this year, the country’s security had been taken over by the Afghanistan military from the hands of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, but since then it had struggled to maintain the peace and order in the war torn nation. Mr Ghani asked during a press conference on Friday.
But the Taleban rebuffed his remarks.
“The presence of our Mujahideen with weapons and a auto loaded with explosives in such a high security area shows God’s support and the cooperation of the poor and Muslim people”, the group said.
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“Expecting us to surrender and come for talks is foolishness”.
