Second suicide bomber strikes in Afghan city, killing at least 19
KABUL, Afghanistan — 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. The Taliban later rejected an extension of the cease-fire.
Najibullah Kamawal, director of the provincial health department, said another 60 people were wounded in the attack, which struck a crowd of people as they left the governor’s compound.
Saturday’s attack, which also took place in Jalalabad, killed at least 36 people and wounded 65, said Kamawal, director of the provincial health department.
No one has claimed the attacks, but they appeared to be the work of Islamic State, which is not included in the cease-fire and has clashed with the Taliban in the past. The local Islamic State affiliate has a strong presence in the province.
The bomber on Saturday targeted a gathering of Taliban fighters who were celebrating a three-day truce coinciding with the Eid al-Fitr holiday.
After the attack, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announced a nine-day extension of the cease-fire.
The chairman of the High Peace Council, a government body charged with negotiating an end to the 17-year war, called on the Taliban to accept the extended cease-fire.
“We hope that the extension of the cease-fire will be announced by the leadership of the Taliban,” Mohammad Karim Khalili said.
But later Sunday the Taliban announced that their cease-fire had ended and they had no intention of extending it.