Two weeks ago 13 people were killed when a suicide attack targetted the American University in Kabul.
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He said dozens of soldiers and officers were killed and wounded, but there was no immediate official confirmation.
Earlier, the twin explosions in quick succession tore through a crowded area of the city close to the defence ministry.
Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for the Afghan Interior Minister, said sporadic gunfire started again in the morning hours, not long after a suicide vehicle bomber targeted the Kabul residential neighborhood of Shar-e Now, or New City.
Defence ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanesh said army and police personnel, as well as civilians, who had rushed to help people hurt in the first blast, were caught by the suicide attack, which took place near a market and transport intersection, as well as ministries and government offices.
Kabul has suffered a string of attacks this summer.
It is understood a suicide auto bomber targeted a residential neighbourhood of Kabul home to many foreigners and diplomats in the latest blast.
Gunmen who followed the initial attack appeared to have barricaded themselves into a building and security forces blocked off a large area in the city centre.
Terror attacks are all too common in Afghanistan, with the Taliban claiming responsibility for most of the attacks.
Radmanish said the suicide attacker struck as security forces gathered near the ministry to deal with the first blast.
“The second explosion was so strong, and many people, including security officials, were killed and wounded”, he said. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told his followers on Twitter that the defence ministry was the object of the first attack, while police were targeted in the second “martyr” attack.
“The enemies of Afghanistan have lost their ability to fight the security and defence forces of the country”, said President Ashraf Ghani in a statement.
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Afghanistan’s foreign partners, concerned about the ability of the security forces to withstand Taliban violence, are expected to pledge support over coming years at the Brussels conference, three months after North Atlantic Treaty Organisation members reaffirmed their commitment at a meeting in Warsaw.
