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Suicide attack in Afghanistan kills 10

JALALABAD: A suicide attack in restive eastern Afghanistan on Sunday killed at least 10 people and wounded many others, officials said, in the second attack in as many days.

The explosion happened outside the Nangarhar provincial governor’s office, his spokesman told AFP. An Afghan security source confirmed the suicide attack and death toll.

Relevant pieces published earlier: 

i)  A suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowd of Afghan Taliban, security forces, and civilians celebrating an unprecedented ceasefire in the war-torn country today, killing at least 20 people, officials said. The attack came as President Ashraf Ghani announced an extension of the government’s week-long ceasefire with the militant group after both sides agreed to halt hostilities for Eid. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast that also wounded at least 16 others marking the suspension of fighting in Rodat district of Nangarhar province, but an Afghan security source told Media that the Islamic State (IS) group was to blame.

“A suicide bomber detonated among people, security forces and Taliban who were celebrating the ceasefire,” provincial governor spokesman Attaullah Khogyani told Media. He said at least 20 people had been killed and 16 others wounded. Provincial health director Najibullah Kamawal confirmed the death toll but said 25 wounded had been taken to a hospital. Ghani made his announcement in a rare televised address to the nation, in which he also asked the Taliban to extend their three-day ceasefire which is due to end Sunday. “I order the security forces to remain on their defensive positions,” Ghani said, adding details of the extension would be released later. The government’s ceasefire, which was due to end Tuesday, did not include IS.

ii) Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announced today an extension of the government’s week-long ceasefire with the Taliban, as both sides observed a halt in hostilities for Eid. In a rare televised address to the nation, Ghani also asked the Taliban to extend their three-day ceasefire which is due to end Sunday. “I order the security forces to remain on their defensive positions,” Ghani said, adding details of the extension would be released later. The government’s ceasefire was due to the end Tuesday. His announcement comes as Taliban fighters and Afghan security forces hugged and took selfies with each other across the country as an unprecedented ceasefire in the war-torn country held for the second day of Eid.

Carrying assault weapons and rocket-propelled grenade launchers, members of Afghanistan’s biggest militant group travelled by car and motorbike through the contested district of Bati Kot in eastern Nangarhar province, waving Afghan and Taliban flags. Afghan forces manning checkpoints offered Eid greetings to the Taliban, embracing and posing for photos with the same people they are usually trying to kill – a scene that would have been unthinkable only a few days ago. Villagers also flocked around the insurgents, hugging them and happily taking selfies with the heavily armed fighters as they celebrated the Muslim holiday capping the holy month of Ramzan. 

M M Alam

M. M. Alam is a Pakistan-based working journalist since 1981. Karachi University faculty gold medalist Alam began his career four decades ago by writing for Dawn, Pakistan’s highest circulating English daily. He has worked for region’s leading publications, global aviation periodicals including Rotors (of USA) and vetted New York Times as permanent employee of daily Express Tribune. Alam regularly covers international aviation and defense-related events including Salon Du Bourget (France), Farnborough (United Kingdom), Dubai (UAE). Alam has reported thousands of events and interviewed hundreds of people in Pakistan, UAE, EU, UK and USA. Being Francophone Alam also coordinates with a number of French publications.