The Pashtun Times Latest News
AFGHANISTAN: Gunfire followed by explosion rocked Jalalabad city, the provincial capital of eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan earlier today.
Sediq Sediq, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior (MoI), said at least seven members of the Afghan National Security Forces lost their lives and as much others were wounded in the attack.
Local government officials, at least six people including two civilians and four policemen lost their lives in the attack.
Provincial governor spokesman Ataullah Khogyani confirmed that a suicide bomber detonated near the Pakistani consulate.
He said the blast triggered a gun battle between the Afghan security forces and the remaining assailants which lasted for several hours before the militants were eliminated.
Meanwhile, provincial police chief Fazal Ahmad Sherzad said at least three civilians were also wounded in the attack and were shifted to hospital for the treatment.
Nangarhar is among the relatively volatile provinces in eastern Afghanistan where anti-government armed militant groups are actively operating in a number of its districts and frequently carry out insurgency activities.
The loyalists of the newly emerged Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group are also actively operating in a number of its remote districts including Achin and Kot. -KP
