UPDATE 2 - 5 killed in explosion near Foreign Ministry building in Kabul

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT FROM PAKISTAN’S FOREIGN MINISTRY

By Islamuddin Sajid and Muhammet Nazim Tasci

ISLAMABAD (AA) – At least five people were killed and several others wounded on Wednesday in a huge explosion and gunfire outside Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry building in the capital Kabul, police said.

A spokesman for the Kabul police, Khalid Zadran, confirmed the explosion that took place on the road of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, saying: “Five of our civilians were killed and a number of others were injured.”

“The Islamic Emirate condemns such an aimless and cowardly attack on Muslims. The perpetrators will be found and punished for their evil deeds,” he said in a statement.

However, a local media outlet AmuTelevision, citing the Foreign Ministry’s sources, said 20 people lost their lives while 26 others were wounded in the explosion.

Earlier, some social media accounts reported that a meeting with Chinese officials was underway at the Foreign Ministry when the blast happened.

However, the ministry denied these reports.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Islamabad “strongly condemns the brazen terrorist attack that took place in Kabul today resulting in loss of precious lives.”

“The Government and people of Pakistan extend their deepest sympathies and condolences to the bereaved families,” it said. “We stand in solidarity with our Afghan brothers and sisters in the fight against the scourge of terrorism.”

The Taliban administration is facing insurgency since it seized power in August 2021 as ISIS/Daesh carried out dozens of attacks in Kabul and other parts of the country.

The Taliban also claimed to have killed hundreds of Daesh militants in operations across the country.