Afghan police: 3 separate Kabul explosions kill 5, wound 2 more
KABUL, Afghanistan — Three sticky bomb attacks in the Afghan capital, Kabul, killed at least five people and wounded two others Saturday, a police official said, amid a surge in violence in the war-torn country.
Kabul police spokesman Ferdaws Faramarz said two explosions caused by sticky bombs attached to vehicles took place 15 minutes apart and that a third targeting a police vehicle exploded about two hours later.
No group immediately claimed responsibility.
The majority of bomb attacks in Kabul in recent months have been sticky bombs — explosive devices with magnets that are attached to vehicles and detonated by remote control or timer.
The second explosion targeted a car in a northwestern Kabul neighborhood in which national army soldiers were traveling, killing two soldiers. A civilian passerby was also killed.
The third explosion destroyed a police car in western Kabul, killing two police officers. Meanwhile, the first blast targeted a civilian car wounding both travelers inside the vehicle.
Kabul police said investigations were underway.
The Islamic State group’s local affiliate has claimed responsibility for some of the attacks, but many go unclaimed, with the government pinning the blame on the Taliban. The insurgents have denied responsibility for most of the attacks.
Afghanistan has seen a nationwide spike in bombings, targeted killings and violence on the battlefield as peace negotiations in Qatar between the Taliban and the Afghan government have stalled. It has been over a month since the sides last met to discuss howto proceed.
Meanwhile, the new U.S. administration is reviewing the U.S.-Taliban peace deal signed Feb. 29, 2020. A major part of that agreement was Washington’s commitment to a May 1 withdrawal of all foreigntroops from Afghanistan.
Russia has stepped up efforts to try and find a way forward, visiting with regional players and officials and senior Taliban figures.
Zamir Kabulov, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy for Afghanistan, met with Pakistani officials, including army chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, on Friday to discuss the peace process.