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| Suicide bombing kills 6 in Kabul | Suicide bombing kills 6 in Kabul |
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| KABUL — A suicide bomber killed six people and wounded more than 30 during rush hour in the Afghan capital on Wednesday, striking near the presidential palace and the Finance Ministry, Afghan officials said. | KABUL — A suicide bomber killed six people and wounded more than 30 during rush hour in the Afghan capital on Wednesday, striking near the presidential palace and the Finance Ministry, Afghan officials said. |
| The blast was the second attack in a week in Kabul, suggesting that Afghanistan’s insurgency is revving up as the traditional winter lull in the fighting approaches an end. Last week, the Taliban asserted responsibility for a suicide bombing in the capital that killed a powerful regional police commander. | The blast was the second attack in a week in Kabul, suggesting that Afghanistan’s insurgency is revving up as the traditional winter lull in the fighting approaches an end. Last week, the Taliban asserted responsibility for a suicide bombing in the capital that killed a powerful regional police commander. |
| [Read: As the U.S. mission winds down, Afghan insurgency grows more complex] | [Read: As the U.S. mission winds down, Afghan insurgency grows more complex] |
| Afghan officials said Wednesday’s suicide bomber was apparently in a vehicle packed with explosives and struck in the heart of Kabul, in front of the Finance Ministry and near a police station. The target of the attack remained unclear, the officials said. As of Wednesday evening, no one had claimed responsibility for the blast. | Afghan officials said Wednesday’s suicide bomber was apparently in a vehicle packed with explosives and struck in the heart of Kabul, in front of the Finance Ministry and near a police station. The target of the attack remained unclear, the officials said. As of Wednesday evening, no one had claimed responsibility for the blast. |
| The attack occurred a day after President Obama said he would slow the planned withdrawal of 9,800 U.S. troops from Afghanistan, freezing their levels through the end of the year. The decision came after a meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who is on his first official visit to Washington since taking office six months ago. | |
| Before his departure to the United States, Ghani told reporters that the government and the security forces were bracing for the Taliban’s annual spring offensive. The government, he said, was expecting “a difficult spring.” | Before his departure to the United States, Ghani told reporters that the government and the security forces were bracing for the Taliban’s annual spring offensive. The government, he said, was expecting “a difficult spring.” |
| More than 10,000 Afghan civilians died or were injured in conflict last year, according to the United Nations, the largest number since the international body started keeping records in the country. Last year also saw more Afghan security forces killed or injured than in any year since the Taliban was ousted from power in 2001. | More than 10,000 Afghan civilians died or were injured in conflict last year, according to the United Nations, the largest number since the international body started keeping records in the country. Last year also saw more Afghan security forces killed or injured than in any year since the Taliban was ousted from power in 2001. |
| Read more: | Read more: |
| Afghanistan president faces a delicate task | |
| How a slain Afghan woman became an unlikely champion |