Afghanistan: Several dead as blasts rock Jalalabad and Kabul

At least seven people have been killed and some 30 wounded in a series of blasts in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad and the country’s capital, Kabul, Taliban sources told Al Jazeera.

The casualties occurred when improvised explosive devices went off on Saturday, the sources said.

“Explosions in Jalalabad and in Kabul appear to be work of ISIL-K remnants,” a Taliban source said, referring to the Islamic State in Khorasan Province armed group, also known as ISKP (ISIS-K). The senior source added that the Taliban had opened an investigation into the attacks “and culprits will be brought to justice”.

News agencies quoting witnesses and security sources said the fatalities occurred during at least four explosions in the capital of Nangarhar province on Saturday.

“Many people involved in today’s incidents in Jalalabad city have been arrested and investigations are ongoing. The results of the investigation will be officially announced later.”

There has been no claim of responsibility so far. Jalalabad is the capital of Nangarhar province, the heartland of ISKP.

Pictures taken at the site of a blast in Jalalabad showed a green pick-up truck with a white Taliban flag surrounded by debris as armed men looked on.

“In one attack, a Taliban vehicle patrolling in Jalalabad was targeted,” a Taliban official, who asked not to be named, told AFP news agency.

“Women and children were among the injured,” he said.

At least two people were also reported wounded in a car bomb blast just before noon in Kabul’s Dasht-e-Barchi neighbourhood.

The Taliban stormed to power in mid-August, overthrowing the government as the United States-led international forces completed their withdrawal from Afghanistan. The group has promised to restore security to the violence-racked country.

The chaotic US-led evacuation of foreigners and Afghans who worked for international forces was marred by a devastating bomb attack claimed by ISKP which killed scores of people.