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Suicide blast near defense ministry kills 22 people in Kabul

ISLAMABAD, Sept 17 (KUNA) - At least 22 people lost their lives while 38 others were wounded in a suicide blast in Afghan capital city Kabul on Tuesday, said Afghan Ministry of Interior (MoI).
According to a Ministry of Interior statement, the explosion occurred near Massoud Square close to one of the Ministry of Defense's buildings in Police District 9 (PD9) in Kabul.
"The Taliban terrorists have sustained major blows by the brave members of the Afghan security and defense forces on the battlefield, and they face shameful setbacks on every front, so they plan brutal and chaos-causing attacks on civilians," the statement read.
Taliban rebels have claimed responsibility for the blast. A spokesman for the Kabul police chief, Firdaus Faramarz in a statement to media said at least 22 people including six military personnel have been killed in the suicide attack. "There are both women and children among those killed or wounded in the attack," said Faramarz.
Earlier in the day, at least 24 people lost their lives while over 30 others received injuries in a bomb blast on Tuesday near an election rally held by Afghan President, Ashraf Ghani in Parwan province, north of Afghanistan. The President, who was campaigning for the Presidential elections scheduled to take place on September 28, remained safe and unharmed. The incidents of violence came after US President Donald Trump called off peace talks with Taliban rebels aimed at ending 18-year war in Afghanistan. (end) sbk.rk