Afghan government officials announced on Sunday that at least 11 civilians, including children, were killed in a landmine explosion in their vehicle in northern Afghanistan, accusing the Taliban of planting it.
Khudadad Tayib, governor of Badghis province, in the north of the country, said that 11 passengers, including three children, were killed in the blast yesterday, Saturday.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which took place hours before senior Taliban leaders met United Nations officials in Qatar to discuss the Afghan peace process and the security of diplomats and humanitarian workers in Afghanistan.
A Taliban spokesman said in a statement on Twitter that Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, deputy head of the movement’s political bureau, “reaffirmed at the meeting the strong commitment to the Afghan peace process.”
Although the Taliban delegation stressed the safety of all staff of relevant United Nations agencies and other diplomats stationed in Afghanistan, Afghan officials accused the movement of continuing attacks on government forces and civilians with the aim of extending its full control over several provinces.
