Blast at Pakistan's Kabul Embassy

A bomb exploded inside Pakistan's embassy in Afghanistan early on Monday, damaging the building but causing no casualties.

Embassy officials in capital Kabul said the blast ripped through the concrete roof of the visa section, around 0530 (0100 GMT). The embassy was closed at the time.

"We don't know who is behind it, whether it had any internal or external cause. We will investigate it," Amir Aftaab, the embassy's Second Secretary told Reuters.

Pakistan is the only country to have a functioning embassy in Afghanistan.It is also one of the three states - along with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - that have recognised the Taleban Government in Afghanistan.

The Pakistan embassy is located in the most secure part of Kabul, next to the residence of the Taleban's second in command, Mullah Mohammad Rabbani.

Taleban guards, posted at the embassy,blamed the blast on the anti-Taleban forces led by Ahmed Shah Masood.

Mr Masood was the military chief of the government ousted by the Taleban four years ago.

He has been leading an opposition alliance against the Taleban and accuses Pakistan of funding the Taleban.



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