Afghanistan seeks end to terrorism

KABUL: As officials from around the world gathered in Kabul for a peace conference, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said far more people were killed in last week’s massive truck-bomb explosion than initially reported – more than 150, making it the deadliest attack in the capital in years.

Ghani said his country is under siege from the Taliban and Islamic State but is also enmeshed in an “undeclared” war with Pakistan. He urged the international community to “make good on its promise” to end state-sponsored terrorism.

“It is time to get serious… because our region is under threat,” Ghani said.

As if to underscore the fragile security in Kabul, a rocket landed just over a kilometre from the presidential palace, where the talks were taking place. It hit outside a diplomat’s home not far from the Nato headquarters and the US embassy, but no casualties were reported.

Also, at least nine people were killed and 15 wounded when a bomb attached to a motorcycle went off outside the entrance of the Great Mosque in Herat. The Taliban denied responsibility. Washington Post