N. KOREA EXPANDING URANIUM PLANT

Kabul, Sept. 18: Two people were killed when three blasts struck the Afghan city of Jalalabad on Saturday, at least one of which targeted a Taliban vehicle, in the country’s first deadly attack since the United States withdrew.

The hardline Islamist group stormed to power in mid-August, ousting the government and promising to restore security to the violencewracked country.

“In one attack a Taliban vehicle patrolling in Jalalabad was targeted,” a Taliban official who asked not to be named said. “Women and children were among the injured,” he added.

An official from the health department of Nangarhar Province said that three people died and 18 were wounded, while several local media reported the attacks left at least two dead. Pictures taken at the site of the blast showed a green pick-up truck with a white Taliban flag surrounded by debris as armed fighters looked on.

Jalalabad is the capital of Nangarhar, the heartland of the Islamic State group’s Afghanistan branch.

A chaotic US-led evacuation of foreigners and Afghans who worked for international forces was marred by a devastating bomb attack claimed by the IS which killed scores of people.

But since the last American troop left on August 30, the violencewracked country that was plagued by fighting, bombs and air strikes, has been free of major incidents. —