Afghanistan will not calm down before the planned peace talks. A rocket attack on Independence Day shakes the capital. Government buildings are also hit.
Kabul (AP) - In the center of the Afghan capital Kabul, more than a dozen rockets struck on Tuesday. At least 10 people were injured, as the Interior Ministry announced on Tuesday.
The rockets were therefore fired from two vehicles in the northwest and southeast of the city. Two men were arrested. The rockets hit Kabul during the 101st anniversary of Afghanistan's independence. The terrorist militia Islamic State claimed the attack for itself.
Several bullets hit the diplomatic quarter not far from a ceremony attended by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. According to dpa information, a rocket exploded on the premises of the presidential palace. A unit of the honor guard stationed there is said to have only just missed. However, most missiles hit residential areas, according to the Interior Ministry.
Meanwhile, the government and the militant Islamist Taliban are planning peace talks to end the decades-long conflict in the country. A week ago, a major council meeting had cleared the most important hurdle before the start and approved the release of 400 Taliban fighters classified as particularly dangerous. In the past few days, however, another argument broke out and there is still no date for the talks.
Afghan women's rights activist Fausia Kufi was injured in the arm in a murder attack on Friday. She is one of four women in the 21-strong Kabul delegation for the planned peace talks. The Taliban denied being responsible for the attack on an expressway near Kabul.
The USA signed an agreement with the Taliban on February 29 in Doha (Qatar) that provides for the withdrawal of international troops. In return, the Taliban assured that Afghanistan no longer posed a terrorist threat. At the same time, the deal should pave the way for peace talks within Afghanistan; instead, the prisoner exchange was agreed to build trust. The Islamic State terrorist militia is also active in Afghanistan.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 200818-99-213920 / 2