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Afghanistan war: Taliban bombs election rally and Kabul square | Afghanistan war: Taliban bombs election rally and Kabul square |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Two separate suicide attacks in Afghanistan have killed at least 48 people and injured dozens others. | Two separate suicide attacks in Afghanistan have killed at least 48 people and injured dozens others. |
In Parwan province, north of the capital Kabul, an election rally where President Ashraf Ghani was due to speak was attacked, and 26 people died. | In Parwan province, north of the capital Kabul, an election rally where President Ashraf Ghani was due to speak was attacked, and 26 people died. |
Another blast, near the US embassy in central Kabul, killed 22 people. | Another blast, near the US embassy in central Kabul, killed 22 people. |
The Taliban said they were behind both attacks. The group has continued a concerted bombing campaign while at the same time taking part in peace talks. | The Taliban said they were behind both attacks. The group has continued a concerted bombing campaign while at the same time taking part in peace talks. |
But US President Donald Trump described the negotiations with the Taliban as "dead" earlier this month. | But US President Donald Trump described the negotiations with the Taliban as "dead" earlier this month. |
The Taliban refuse to talk to the Afghan government and have vowed to disrupt the presidential election in the country on 28 September. | The Taliban refuse to talk to the Afghan government and have vowed to disrupt the presidential election in the country on 28 September. |
In a statement, they said: "We already warned people not to attend election rallies, if they suffer any losses that is their own responsibility." | In a statement, they said: "We already warned people not to attend election rallies, if they suffer any losses that is their own responsibility." |
What is known about the explosions? | What is known about the explosions? |
Forty-two people are reported to have been injured in the election rally blast in Charikar, the capital of Parwan province, at 11:40 local time (07:10 GMT). | Forty-two people are reported to have been injured in the election rally blast in Charikar, the capital of Parwan province, at 11:40 local time (07:10 GMT). |
Children were among the casualties, medical staff said. The bomber, on a motorbike, triggered the blast at a checkpoint at the venue. | Children were among the casualties, medical staff said. The bomber, on a motorbike, triggered the blast at a checkpoint at the venue. |
President Ghani, who hopes for a second five-year term, was not hurt. | President Ghani, who hopes for a second five-year term, was not hurt. |
Another suicide bomber targeted Kabul's busy Massood Square, the site of government ministries and Nato compounds, at 13:00 local time. | Another suicide bomber targeted Kabul's busy Massood Square, the site of government ministries and Nato compounds, at 13:00 local time. |
An additional 38 people were injured there, according to the Ministry of Interior Affairs. | An additional 38 people were injured there, according to the Ministry of Interior Affairs. |
On Twitter, the president called the perpetrator "a cowardly enemy". | On Twitter, the president called the perpetrator "a cowardly enemy". |
What is the security situation in Afghanistan? | What is the security situation in Afghanistan? |
An average of 74 people were killed every day in the country in August, according to data collected by the BBC. | An average of 74 people were killed every day in the country in August, according to data collected by the BBC. |
Most of the casualties were those involved in combat, such as Taliban fighters, but a fifth were civilians, including children. | Most of the casualties were those involved in combat, such as Taliban fighters, but a fifth were civilians, including children. |
The worst day for civilians was 18 August, when 112 were killed, including 92 at a wedding in Kabul. | The worst day for civilians was 18 August, when 112 were killed, including 92 at a wedding in Kabul. |
The Taliban are estimated to be openly active across 70% of Afghanistan. | The Taliban are estimated to be openly active across 70% of Afghanistan. |
In June 2019, the country was named the least peaceful place in the world by the Global Peace Index report. | In June 2019, the country was named the least peaceful place in the world by the Global Peace Index report. |
Both Taliban and Nato-backed Afghan forces are on the offensive now. | |
One Afghan government source said they were fighting harder than ever before as they pushed to recapture territory long held or recently taken by the Taliban. | |
More fighting means more civilian casualties. | |
Taliban negotiators in the Qatari capital Doha told us they had established an office to investigate such incidents. | |
On the government side, an office was set up six months ago by the national security adviser, Dr Hamdullah Mohib, who told us every incident was being investigated. | |
But as one village elder in Herat lamented: "We're coming under attack from both sides. What should we do?" | |
What happened to the peace talks? | What happened to the peace talks? |
President Trump called off peace negotiations with the Taliban on 7 September after the militant group launched an attack that killed an American soldier. | President Trump called off peace negotiations with the Taliban on 7 September after the militant group launched an attack that killed an American soldier. |
Talks on ending the 18-year conflict had been under way for weeks in the Gulf state Qatar, and were, by some accounts, coming close to fruition. | Talks on ending the 18-year conflict had been under way for weeks in the Gulf state Qatar, and were, by some accounts, coming close to fruition. |
The US has had troops in Afghanistan since 2001, when it overthrew the Taliban government. | The US has had troops in Afghanistan since 2001, when it overthrew the Taliban government. |
Since then, the Taliban have refused to speak directly with the Afghan government, calling it an American puppet. | Since then, the Taliban have refused to speak directly with the Afghan government, calling it an American puppet. |
At the weekend, a spokesman for President Ghani ruled out making any deal before the election. | |
Why are the elections contentious? | Why are the elections contentious? |
The elections have been twice delayed, and if the peace deal had been struck, they were unlikely to go ahead this month. | The elections have been twice delayed, and if the peace deal had been struck, they were unlikely to go ahead this month. |
The Taliban fear they will allow the current government to cement its power. They have attacked campaign rallies and polling sites in previous years. | The Taliban fear they will allow the current government to cement its power. They have attacked campaign rallies and polling sites in previous years. |
The group's spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said such locations were "military targets" because they were protected by security forces. | The group's spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said such locations were "military targets" because they were protected by security forces. |