Blast in Kabul as Taliban claim attack on minister’s compound 

KABUL: A blast near the office of Afghanistan’s main security agency in Kabul wounded three people on Wednesday hours after a bomb and gun attack on a minister’s compound brought surging Taliban violence to the capital.

At least two people were wounded in an explosion near defence facilities in Kabul National Directorate of Security, police confirmed, reported Xinhua on Wednesday. There was no immediate claim for the Wednesday blast.

Earlier, Taliban claimed responsibility for the late Tuesday car bomb and gun attack on the home of acting Defence Minister Bismillah Mohammadi.

Mohammadi survived the attack on his compound in a heavily fortified part of Kabul but the violence was a stark illustration of the deterioration in security as US-led foreign forces complete their withdrawal and the insurgents seize swathes of territory.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said his group targeted the minister’s residence as an important meeting was underway there.

The Taliban have stepped up their campaign to defeat the US-backed government since April as foreign forces complete their withdrawal after 20 years of war. Fighting has been particularly heavy around the city of Herat, near Lashkar Gah and Kandahar in the south.–Xinhua

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