Suicide bomber targets Afghans celebrating truce, killing 19

KABUL: A suicide bomber struck in Afghanistan’s eastern city of Jalalabad on Sunday, killing at least 19 people in the second attack in as many days targeting Taliban fighters, security forces and civilians celebrating a holiday cease-fire.

Attahullah Khogyani, spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar province, said another 45 people were wounded in the attack, which struck a crowd of people as they left the governor’s compound.

It was also close to the Indian consulate.

Khogyani said a suicide bomber on foot had targeted Taliban, local elders and civilians as they left the governor’s compound where they had attended a special event for the Eid holiday.

Saturday’s attack, which also took place in Jalalabad, killed at least 36 people and wounded 65, according to Najibullah Kamawal, director of the provincial health department

The bomber on Saturday targeted a gathering of Taliban fighters who were celebrating a threeday truce coinciding with the Eidul-Fitr holiday.

The Islamic State group’s Afghanistan franchise claimed responsibility for that attack.

The Taliban have steadily expanded their presence in recent years, seizing a number of districts across the country and carrying out near-daily attacks on Afghan security forces.

Taliban leaders have at different times expressed interest in holding peace talks to end the conflict. But they have refused to meet with the US-backed government, saying they will only negotiate with the United States directly.