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Afghanistan

Afghan Lawmaker Survives Deadly Car Bombing In Kabul

Updated
The explosion occurred on December 20 while an Afghan lawmaker's convoy was passing through an intersection in Kabul's Khushal Khan neighborhood.
The explosion occurred on December 20 while an Afghan lawmaker's convoy was passing through an intersection in Kabul's Khushal Khan neighborhood.

Afghan authorities say a car bombing targeting a member of parliament killed at least nine people in the capital, Kabul.

Interior Minister Massoud Andarabi told reporters on December 20 that lawmaker Khan Mohammad Wardak was among 20 people wounded in the attack.

Andarabi said the lawmaker was in "good condition."

The interior minister warned that the death toll could rise, adding that all the casualties were civilians.

The explosion occurred while the lawmaker's convoy was passing through an intersection in the Khushal Khan neighborhood.

The blast set surrounding civilian vehicles on fire, and also damaged nearby buildings and shops.

Afghan Lawmaker Survives Fatal Car Bombing
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Afghan Lawmaker Survives Fatal Car Bombing
by RFE/RL

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Television footage showed at least three cars on fire, with billowing plumes of thick black smoke.

"The terrorists have carried out a terrorist attack in Kabul city,” said Interior Ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said.

"The enemies of Afghanistan carried out a terrorist attack on Khan Mohammad Wardak," President Ashraf Ghani said in a statement condemning the bombing. "Terrorist attacks on civilian targets and facilities will endanger the opportunity for peace."

No group claimed responsibility for the attack, although officials have blamed similar incidents in the past on the Taliban.

Violence in Afghanistan has skyrocketed in recent months even as the Taliban and Afghan government negotiators try to hammer out a peace deal that could put an end to decades of war.

Kabul Car Bomb Explosion Kills Nine

No group claimed responsibility for the December 20 attack, although officials have blamed similar incidents in the past on the Taliban.
1/14 No group claimed responsibility for the December 20 attack, although officials have blamed similar incidents in the past on the Taliban.
At least nine people were killed and at least 20 others were injured after a December 20 explosion targeted the vehicle of Khan Mohammad Wardak, a member of parliament from Kabul, according to local reports. Wardak survived the attack.
Afghan policemen inspect the site of the blast, which President Ashraf Ghani blamed on "the enemies of Afghanistan."
2/14 Afghan policemen inspect the site of the blast, which President Ashraf Ghani blamed on "the enemies of Afghanistan."
At least nine people were killed and at least 20 others were injured after a December 20 explosion targeted the vehicle of Khan Mohammad Wardak, a member of parliament from Kabul, according to local reports. Wardak survived the attack.
The force of the explosion shattered windows in nearby buildings.
3/14 The force of the explosion shattered windows in nearby buildings.
At least nine people were killed and at least 20 others were injured after a December 20 explosion targeted the vehicle of Khan Mohammad Wardak, a member of parliament from Kabul, according to local reports. Wardak survived the attack.
Officials warned that the death toll could rise, adding that all the casualties were civilians.
4/14 Officials warned that the death toll could rise, adding that all the casualties were civilians.
At least nine people were killed and at least 20 others were injured after a December 20 explosion targeted the vehicle of Khan Mohammad Wardak, a member of parliament from Kabul, according to local reports. Wardak survived the attack.
An injured man sits inside his damaged vehicle.
5/14 An injured man sits inside his damaged vehicle.
At least nine people were killed and at least 20 others were injured after a December 20 explosion targeted the vehicle of Khan Mohammad Wardak, a member of parliament from Kabul, according to local reports. Wardak survived the attack.
<p>The blast set surrounding civilian vehicles on fire, and also damaged nearby buildings and shops.</p>
6/14

The blast set surrounding civilian vehicles on fire, and also damaged nearby buildings and shops.
At least nine people were killed and at least 20 others were injured after a December 20 explosion targeted the vehicle of Khan Mohammad Wardak, a member of parliament from Kabul, according to local reports. Wardak survived the attack.
Members of the Afghan security forces inspect at the site of the attack.
7/14 Members of the Afghan security forces inspect at the site of the attack.
At least nine people were killed and at least 20 others were injured after a December 20 explosion targeted the vehicle of Khan Mohammad Wardak, a member of parliament from Kabul, according to local reports. Wardak survived the attack.
An Afghan journalist films a damaged vehicle at the site of a blast in Kabul on December 20.
8/14 An Afghan journalist films a damaged vehicle at the site of a blast in Kabul on December 20.
At least nine people were killed and at least 20 others were injured after a December 20 explosion targeted the vehicle of Khan Mohammad Wardak, a member of parliament from Kabul, according to local reports. Wardak survived the attack.
Afghan security personnel inspect the site of the explosion, which occurred as the Wardak&#39;s convoy was passing through an intersection in Kabul&#39;s Khushal Khan neighborhood.
9/14 Afghan security personnel inspect the site of the explosion, which occurred as the Wardak's convoy was passing through an intersection in Kabul's Khushal Khan neighborhood.
At least nine people were killed and at least 20 others were injured after a December 20 explosion targeted the vehicle of Khan Mohammad Wardak, a member of parliament from Kabul, according to local reports. Wardak survived the attack.
Members of the Afghan security forces stand guard at the site of an attack in Kabul on December 20.
10/14 Members of the Afghan security forces stand guard at the site of an attack in Kabul on December 20.
At least nine people were killed and at least 20 others were injured after a December 20 explosion targeted the vehicle of Khan Mohammad Wardak, a member of parliament from Kabul, according to local reports. Wardak survived the attack.
Afghan policemen inspect at the site of the explosion.
11/14 Afghan policemen inspect at the site of the explosion.
At least nine people were killed and at least 20 others were injured after a December 20 explosion targeted the vehicle of Khan Mohammad Wardak, a member of parliament from Kabul, according to local reports. Wardak survived the attack.
Afghan men look out a damaged window of an apartment that faces the scene.
12/14 Afghan men look out a damaged window of an apartment that faces the scene.
At least nine people were killed and at least 20 others were injured after a December 20 explosion targeted the vehicle of Khan Mohammad Wardak, a member of parliament from Kabul, according to local reports. Wardak survived the attack.
Television footage showed at least three cars on fire.
13/14 Television footage showed at least three cars on fire.
At least nine people were killed and at least 20 others were injured after a December 20 explosion targeted the vehicle of Khan Mohammad Wardak, a member of parliament from Kabul, according to local reports. Wardak survived the attack.
Members of the Afghan security forces stand guard at the site of the attack.
14/14 Members of the Afghan security forces stand guard at the site of the attack.
At least nine people were killed and at least 20 others were injured after a December 20 explosion targeted the vehicle of Khan Mohammad Wardak, a member of parliament from Kabul, according to local reports. Wardak survived the attack.
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The peace talks in the Gulf state of Qatar were suspended earlier this month, three months after they began. They are expected to resume in January.

There have been regular clashes in various parts of the country and bomb and rocket attacks in Kabul.

On December 15, a bomb blast and a shooting attack in Kabul killed at least three people, including a deputy provincial governor.

The Interior Ministry said on December 19 that Taliban militants have killed at least 487 civilians and wounded nearly 1,050 in the past three months.

The ministry said the group had conducted 35 suicide bombings and detonated 507 improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The Taliban rejected the figures as government propaganda.

With reporting by AP, AFP, and Tolo News
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