Bombers hit base in eastern Afghanistan, kill guard

Published June 9, 2014
— AFP file photo
— AFP file photo

KABUL: Three suicide bombers attacked a parking lot at a police base in eastern Afghanistan, killing a guard and setting 25 trucks ablaze, an official told AP on Monday.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but the Taliban has recently staged a series of high-profile bombings ahead of the June 14 runoff in the country's presidential election.

The attack on the police base in eastern Behsud district took place late Sunday, said Ahmad Zia Abdulzai, the spokesman for the provincial governor of Nangarhar province.

A suicide car bomber first blew himself up by detonating his vehicle at the entrance to the parking lot. Two other attackers then stormed in, shooting at the security forces.

The police killed both attackers but at least 25 fuel tankers and logistic trucks caught on fire and were burned during the fighting, Abdulzai said.

Officials are concerned there could be more violence ahead of the balloting on Saturday, though the first round of the election on April 5 passed relatively peacefully.

Last Friday, Abdullah Abdullah¬-the frontrunner in the election -narrowly escaped assassination when two suicide boomers attacked his convoy during a campaign event in the capital.

At least 10 people, including three in Abdullah's entourage were killed and dozens were wounded in the attack which heavily damaged the front of Abdullah's armored car, destroyed several vehicles and storefronts and left the street littered with twisted metal and other rubble.

No one has claimed responsibility for that attack either.

Abdullah is facing off against former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai.

In the initial balloting, he garnered 45 per cent of the votes while Ahmadzai came in second with 31.6 percent.

Opinion

Budgeting without people

Budgeting without people

Even though the economy is a critical issue, discussions about it involve a select few who are not really interested in communicating with the people.

Editorial

Iranian tragedy
Updated 21 May, 2024

Iranian tragedy

Due to Iran’s regional and geopolitical influence, the world will be watching the power transition carefully.
Circular debt woes
21 May, 2024

Circular debt woes

THE alleged corruption and ineptitude of the country’s power bureaucracy is proving very costly. New official data...
Reproductive health
21 May, 2024

Reproductive health

IT is naïve to imagine that reproductive healthcare counts in Pakistan, where women from low-income groups and ...
Wheat price crash
Updated 20 May, 2024

Wheat price crash

What the government has done to Punjab’s smallholder wheat growers by staying out of the market amid crashing prices is deplorable.
Afghan corruption
20 May, 2024

Afghan corruption

AMONGST the reasons that the Afghan Taliban marched into Kabul in August 2021 without any resistance to speak of ...
Volleyball triumph
20 May, 2024

Volleyball triumph

IN the last week, while Pakistan’s cricket team savoured a come-from-behind T20 series victory against Ireland,...