Kabul [Afghanistan], August 3 (ANI): Multiple explosions and sporadic gunfire were heard in the city Kabul, near the residence of the acting Afghanistan Defence Minister Bismillah Mohammad in Kabul late on Tuesday.
“We heard sporadic gunfire. Then there was a loud siren. About five minutes later there was a second explosion. And then a third…” CNN said.
“Gunfire and explosions are still heard near the acting defense minister‘s house in downtown Kabul where an initial blast was heard around 8 pm (local time),” TOLO News also said.
The incident took place around 8 pm and videos showed large plumes of smoke billowing out from the scene minutes after the blast, TOLO News reported.

Shortly after the explosions scores of people were seen taking to the streets in Jalalabad chanting religious slogans in support of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces.
“Nangarhar residents took to the streets in Jalalabad tonight chanting Allahu Akbar in support of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces,” it tweeted.
This came amid heavy clashes between Afghanistan forces and the Taliban in several Afghan cities. Aghan forces battled the Taliban in Lashkargah as the fighting intensified in the city in southern Helmand province and the frontline was in District 1 where the US conducted an airstrike on Monday morning.
Over the last few weeks, the Taliban have captured several districts in Afghanistan including Takhar, the country’s northeastern province.
Nationwide, the Taliban controls 223 districts, with 116 contested and the government holding 68, according to the Long War Journal, whose calculations tally with CNN’s estimates. It says 17 of 34 provincial capitals are directly threatened by the Taliban.

Afghan Defence Minister says he and his family are safe following ‘terrorist attack’ in Kabul

Afghanistan acting Defense Minister General Bismillah Mohammadi on Wednesday said he and his family are safe following a “terrorist attack” on his residence in Kabul.
“Acting Defense Minister Gen. Bismillah Mohammadi says he and his family are safe following a “terrorist attack” on his residence in Kabul. He says some of his security guards have been wounded,” Tolo News reported.
Multiple explosions and sporadic gunfire were heard in the city of Kabul, near the residence of the acting Afghanistan Defence Minister Bismillah Mohammad late on Tuesday.

The incident took place around 8 pm (local time) on Tuesday and videos showed large plumes of smoke billowing out from the scene minutes after the blast.
According to the Afghan media, the blast was due to a car bomb attack.
“Sources said that car bomb attack targeted a guesthouse that belonged to the acting Defense Minister Bismillah Mohammadi who was not there when the explosion happened,” Tolo News reported.
This came amid heavy clashes between Afghanistan forces and the Taliban in several Afghan cities.
In the past few weeks, Afghanistan has witnessed a surge in violence as the Taliban has intensified their offensive against civilians and Afghan security forces with the complete pullback of foreign forces just a few weeks away.

21 Taliban terrorists killed, 27 injured in Afghan air force airstrikes

In an airstrike by Afghan Air Force (AAF) on Tuesday at least 21 Taliban terrorists were killed and 27 others were wounded in Jowzjan province.
“21 Taliban terrorists were killed and 27 others were wounded in airstrikes conducted by AAF at the outskirts of #Sheberghan city, Jowzjan provincial center, late afternoon today. Also, 10 motorbikes, a large amount of their weapons, amos & equipment were destroyed,” Ministry of Defense, Afghanistan tweeted.

These airstrikes come as Afghanistan is witnessing a surge in violence as the Taliban has intensified its offensive against Afghan forces and civilians with the complete pullback of foreign forces just a few weeks away.
Over the last few weeks, the Taliban have captured several districts in Afghanistan including Takhar, the country’s northeastern province.
Nationwide, the Taliban controls 223 districts, with 116 contested and the government holding 68, according to the Long War Journal, whose calculations tally with CNN’s estimates. It says 17 of 34 provincial capitals are directly threatened by the Taliban.

UNSC members condemn attack against UN compound in Afghanistan

The members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has condemned the attack against a United Nations compound in Herat, Afghanistan, which claimed the life of Afghan security forces guard and injured other officers.
“The members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) condemned in the strongest terms the deplorable attack against the United Nations compound in Herat, Afghanistan, on 30 July 2021, which resulted in the death of an Afghan security forces guard and several injured,” UNSC said in a statement.
The members of the Security Council also expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the family of the victim and they wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured.
Expressing deep concern about the high levels of violence in Afghanistan following the Taliban‘s offensive, UNSC members called for an immediate reduction of violence.

According to the statement, they also expressed deep concern about the number of reported serious human rights abuses and violations in communities affected by the ongoing armed conflict across the country.
The members reiterated their support to the work of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), and in this regard, emphasised the importance of the safety and security of UN personnel.
“The members of the Security Council called on both the Islamic Republic and the Taliban to engage meaningfully in an inclusive, Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process in order to make urgent progress towards a political settlement and a ceasefire,” the statement said.
It further stated that the members recognised that sustainable peace can be achieved only through a comprehensive and inclusive Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process that aims at a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire, as well as an inclusive, just, and realistic political settlement to end the conflict in Afghanistan. They stressed the need for full, equal and meaningful participation of women in this regard.
The members of the Security Council recalled UNSC resolution 2513 (2020), reaffirmed that there is no military solution to the conflict, and declared that they do not support the restoration of the Islamic Emirate, it added.

Taliban attacks carried out in collusion with Pak-based and other terror organisations, says Afghan foreign ministry

At a meeting with ambassadors and representatives of neighbouring countries, Afghanistan Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar on Tuesday named Pakistan-based terror groups and other terror organisations supporting the Taliban amid the ongoing escalation of violence in the country, said the Afghan Foreign Ministry.
On Tuesday, Afghan foreign minister Haneef Atmar met with ambassadors and representatives of neighbouring countries to discuss the situation in the country.
This came amid heavy clashes between Afghanistan forces and the Taliban in several Afghan cities.
“Minister Atmar noted that the Taliban attacks were carried out in direct collusion with more than 10,000 regional terrorists from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Ansarullah, Jundallah, al-Qaeda, East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU),” Afghan Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“The rise of the Taliban‘s bloody attacks in recent months had killed more than 3,000 people, displaced more than 300,000, and disrupted order and provision of services in half of the country’s districts. Currently, 18 million people face dire humanitarian situations,” Atmar said.

He said the Taliban‘s war crimes were indescribable, referring to the massacre of more than 100 people in Spin Boldak, forced marriages, destruction of more than 300 public infrastructures, and suspension of services in Taliban-controlled areas.
During the meeting, the representatives of regional countries and the United Nations expressed their support for an immediate cessation of violence and strengthening the peace process.
The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Deborah Lyons said the attack on Herat and the UNAMA office showed that actions do not reflect commitments. She added that this was not just Afghan’s struggle, but a struggle that we should all pay serious attention to, read the statement.
“Atmar discussed and provided the necessary information on six main areas, including: (1) the security situation, (2) the presence of foreign fighters alongside the Taliban, (3) the dire humanitarian condition, and (4) the Taliban‘s widespread crimes and human rights violations, (5) the government’s new security plan, and (6) main areas of cooperation with the international community,” it added.
In the past few weeks, Afghanistan is witnessing a surge in violence as the Taliban has intensified its offensive against Afghan forces and civilians with the complete pullback of foreign forces just a few weeks away. (ANI)