News / Afghanistan

7 killed as blast hits near foreign consulates in E Afghan city

Wednesday, 13 January 2016 5:34 AM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 13 January 2016 9:58 AM ]

This photo shows Afghan security forces standing guard around two arrested ISIL militants in Jalalabad, the capital city of eastern Nangarhar province, Dec. 23, 2015. ©AP

A bomb attack has rocked the vicinity of the Pakistani consulate in the eastern Afghanistan city of Jalalabad, killing at least seven people.

"Seven of our security forces were killed and seven others wounded as a result of the terrorist attack," Interior Ministry spokesman, Sediq Sediqqi, said on Twitter on Wednesday.

"The incident occurred near the Pakistani consulate, but we are not sure if it was the intended target," he said.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

Earlier, Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said a bomber had detonated his explosives after being prevented from entering the building.

Afghan security forces were, meanwhile, reported to be trading fire with gunmen barricaded in a house near the consulate after the explosion.

The incidents come as the two countries are partaking in four-way talks, also involving the United States and China, in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad to revive stalled peace talks with the Taliban.

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