Twin suicide bomber attacks in Kabul kill seven, wound 21

Afghan police say two suicide bombers in the capital have targeted two buses carrying Afghan army troops, killing seven and wounding 21 people. Kabul criminal investigation police chief Mohammad Farid Afzali says the first attacker Wednesday morning hit a bus with Afghan National Army officers, killing seven and wounding 15 in west Kabul. The second attacker, who was also on foot, blew himself up in front of a second bus in northeast Kabul, wounding additional army personnel. Taliban spokesman Zabiullha Mhujahid has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

I was walking down the road when a huge explosion occurred. Right after the blast, I saw dust and smoke rising from the area and then I escaped.

Shopkeeper Sanaullah Khan

The attacks come a day after Afghanistan signed security deals with NATO and the United States. The agreements will allow foreign troops to stay in the country after the end of the year, filling a campaign promise by new President Ashraf Ghani. The agreements will allow a contingent of 12,000 foreign troops to stay in Afghanistan, mostly to continue training the Afghan national security force. It will, however, include a small U.S. force of 1,800 personnel who will work on counter-terrorism missions. Afghan officials hope that the security deals will boost morale among the country’s security forces and restore confidence in the economy, which has been battered by the drawdown of troops and fear of a full U.S. military withdrawal.

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