One suicide attacker Sunday morning exploded his explosive-laden car near compound of police department in eastern Afghan province of Khost, killing 16 people and injuring 58 others, sources said.
"A vehicle borne suicide bomber detonated himself in Khost province, killing 16 Afghans and wounding 58 others," said a statement released by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
It added that "14 Children were amongst those killed and one was an Afghan National Army soldier."
Moreover, ISAF believe that the Haqanni network were directly responsible for the barbaric act.
Jalaludin Haqani, who served as a minister and chief of army staff during Taliban regime in Afghanistan, is a close aide to Taliban chief Mullah Mohammad Omar and has been leading Taliban fighters in east Afghanistan to mount pressure on Afghan government and international troops deployed there in the post-Taliban nation.
Afghan police officers inspect the site of a blast in Khost province December 28, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Earlier, deputy provincial police Guldad told Xinhua that "a man driving an explosive-laden car blew himself up in front of police department in Ismael Khil district at 11:00 a.m. local time (0630 GMT) leaving six persons including two police and four pupils dead."
"At least 31 others were wounded in the blast," Guldad said. "Several school students were among the injured."
Taliban have yet to claim responsibility.
Meantime, Afghan president Hamid Karzai denounced the bloody incident as terrorist attack.
"Enemies of Afghanistan, in another un-Islamic act killed and injured more than 30 innocent civilians in Khost province once again proved that they are indeed enemies of Afghanistan," a statement released by the Presidential Palace quoted Karzai as saying.
A wounded Afghan boy receives treatment at a hospital after a suicide attack in Khost province December 28, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Karzai also extended his condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured.
Conflicts and Taliban-linked militancy have left more than 5,000 people with some 2,000 civilians, so far this year in war-torn Afghanistan.
Source: Xinhua
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