A series of loud explosions shook central Kabul on Saturday, an AFP report reads. The blasts that took place in quick succession sounded like rockets being fired. The explosions occurred in the densely populated areas of the city, including the centrally located Green Zone and in a neighbourhood in the north. Three people were killed and 11 injured, Tolo news reported as 14 rockets landed in various parts of Kabul. Also, one police officer was killed and three were injured in a magnetic blast in PD12 Kabul city.
Images circulating on social media showed holes from rockets punched into at least two buildings.
Despite the Taliban promising not to attack urban areas, violence has intensified in various parts of the country. Under the agreement, the US will withdraw troops from Afghanistan, so long as the Taliban does not make Afghanistan grounds for more terror attacks. Since the peace deal has been signed, the Taliban has staged attacks in at least 50 districts across 16 Afghan provinces. The attacks have left at least 1,210 civilians dead and 2,500 wounded.
Taliban and Afghan government negotiators have been meeting in Qatar since September, but progress has been slow. Officials told AFP on Friday that a breakthrough was expected to be announced in the coming days.
Given the current situation, it looks like President Donald Trump might fall behind on one of his main promises to end ‘forever wars’ in Afghanistan before he leaves the White House.
