Geo World

Suicide attack kills two in northern Afghanistan

KABUL: Four Taliban bombers blew themselves up at a US-run development base in northern Afghanistan on Saturday, killing two men in the first suicide attack to hit the once-peaceful region in 10 years of war. The insurgents targeted the US Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) facility in Rokha district, Panjshir province, killing two drivers and leaving two guards wounded, said provincial police chief Mohammad Qasim Jangalbagh. The police and the governor's office confirmed that it was the first suicide attack in the Panjshir valley since the war began, underscoring the violence being wrought on once-tranquil parts of the country after a decade at war. The Taliban claimed responsibility, saying the attack was launched with a car bomb packed with 600kg of explosives. The rebel group frequently exaggerate their claims. Security for the ethnic Tajik-dominated area once ruled by guerrilla hero Ahmad Shah Massoud was handed over from Western troops to Afghans in July. "An explosion which targeted the PRT in Panjshir left two drivers dead and two guards of the PRT wounded," said Jangalbagh. He said the drivers had been bringing fuel supplies to the base when it came under attack. "The first suicide attacker detonated his explosives inside his four-wheel drive vehicle while the other three reached the PRT gate and exploded themselves," he said. "The Americans are inside their base, and the bodies of the suicide attackers lie at the gate of the PRT," he added. A spokesman for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Christopher Pewitt confirmed the incident but had no record of fatalities. "We can confirm a suicide attack on the PRT early this morning in Panjshir. There were no casualties to ISAF. Civilians were injured in the blast," he said, without giving further details. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the insurgents attacked the gate of the base. "Five mujahedeen fighters attacked the gate of PRT in Panjshir province and detonated a car packed with 600kg of explosives," he told AFP by phone from an undisclosed location.