8 killed, 13 injured in Afghanistan blast

At least eight people have reportedly been killed and 13 others wounded in a bomb blast in Afghanistan’s northern province of Baghlan.

The explosion took place outside a mosque in the Baraka district shortly after Friday prayers, a provincial police spokesman said.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, although most terrorist acts across Afghanistan are either claimed by or attributed to Taliban militants.

On Thursday, four police forces were killed in Logar province during a battle with the Taliban.

The militants have stepped up their attacks against Afghan government troops, foreign forces and civilians. 

They have vowed to escalate the assaults on Afghan forces and US-led troops, their bases, diplomatic missions and vehicle convoys before the drawdown of the US-led foreign forces by the end of the year.

The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The military offensive removed the Taliban from power, but insecurity continues across the country despite the presence of thousands of US-led troops.

There are currently more than 41,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan, including some 29,000 US troops.

MSM/MHB/MAM