Police had detained one suspect and were preparing to conduct a sweep of the restaurant, Sediqqi said.
Advertisement
Another fifteen people were injured in the auto bomb attack on Le Jardin restaurant, Kabul Criminal Investigation Department head Faraidoon Ubaidi said.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack, and said one of their suicide bombers were involved.
WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP/Getty Images Security personnel and bystanders look on as flames and smoke rise at the site of a suicide auto bomb attack at a French restaurant on Friday.
The blast is the latest in a series of attacks around Afghanistan in recent weeks.
Violence has been rising as the U.S.-led global military coalition in Afghanistan has scaled down and focused more on training and advising the Afghan security forces.
Also, on December 11, at least four Taliban suicide bombers and gunmen stormed a guesthouse belonging to the Spanish embassy in Kabul, killing eight, including two Spanish nationals and wounding seven others.
Waziri dismissed suggestions that Helmand could fall to the Taliban entirely but said government forces faced a serious battle against insurgents who have grown in strength since foreign troops ended most combat operations a year ago.
Friday’s explosion appeared to have hit Le Jardin, one of a small number of restaurants in Afghanistan’s capital still frequented by foreigners, according to a police official.
But despite improving relations with Islamabad, the Taliban has vowed not to take part in peace talks as long as foreign forces remain in Afghanistan.
Advertisement
Pakistan – the Taliban’s historic backers – hosted a milestone first round of talks in July but the negotiations stalled when the insurgents belatedly confirmed the death of longtime leader Mullah Omar.
