A suicide attack killed at six people and wounded 20 others in Kabul on Monday, as protesters were leaving the area of the demonstration over government failure to repulse Taliban attacks on Jaghori and Malistan districts of Ghazni province.
The attacker detonated his explosives near Pashtunistan Square in down town Kabul.
According to a ministry of interior spokesman, the bomber detonated his explosives after the police identified him. He said the blast left at least six people dead and 20 others wounded, including policemen.
Hundreds of protesters gathered in the area throughout the day after marching towards the Presidential Palace early Monday in protest over the lack of security and ongoing Taliban threats in Ghazni and Uruzgan provinces.
Security had been tightened from early morning in the area, and most roads leading to the area were closed to traffic after protesters started gathering close to the Presidential Palace.
The protesters accused the government of negligence in providing enough security to the central parts of the country, especially in Khas Uruzgan district of Uruzgan province, as well as Malistan and Jaghori districts of Ghazni province, whose residents are predominantly ethnic Hazaras.
The march started late Sunday night by a few demonstrators, but their numbers grew as they marched toward the center of the city overnight.
Protesters were carrying posters with slogans – some reading “Ghani and Abdullah Wake up”.
The protesters said the Kabul Garrison chief, General Murad Ali Murad, had tried to stop them from marching, asking them to send their representatives to discuss the issue. However, protesters refused and continued their march.
Later on Monday, President Ghani called the protestors to end their march. The president gave full details about security measures for Jaghori, Malistan and other parts of the country over phone call, Fazal Fazly, a senior advisor to the president said. He said the protesters ended their demonstration following his speech, and returned to their homes.
Reports emerged on Monday indicating that the Taliban militants captured Malistan district, but Ghazni officials denied the reports, claiming there had been fighting between Taliban and security forces in the district, but it did not fall.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that Afghan security forces suffered heavy casualties during the clashes. Reuters News Agency reported that at least 25 commando forces were killed in Ghazni.
Chief of Army Staff Gen. Mohammad Sharif Yaftali confirmed that some commando forces were killed and wounded in the battle, but did not provide further details.
Ghazni has 18 districts, of which Malistan, Jaghori and Nawor districts have always been relatively secure. The other districts have often witnessed heavy clashes between government forces and the Taliban.
