At least 68 people in injured as blast rocks Kabul’s diplomatic district

Kabul 1st July: At least 68 people were wounded on Monday, after a large blast rocked the diplomatic district of Kabul, according to a Tolo News tweet

The tweet quoted Public Health Ministry’s spokesman Wahidullah Mayar.
According to AFP, the neighbourhood is home to some military and government buildings, as well as the Afghan Football Federation and the Afghan Cricket Board.

No group immediately claimed responsibility, and it was not immediately clear what the precise target was. Both the Taliban and the so-called Islamic State group are active in Kabul.

The explosion came two days after the Taliban and the US began their seventh round of talks in the Qatari capital of Doha as Washington eyes a breakthrough before Afghanistan’s September presidential election.

The negotiations have so far centred on four issues – counter-terrorism, the foreign troop presence, an intra-Afghan dialogue and a permanent ceasefire.