The Taliban denied responsibility for an attack that targeted Afghanistan’s first Vice President, Amrullah Saleh. The Vice President survived the attack but some 10 people lost their lives due to the blast. Saleh later said in a video posted on Facebook, “I am fine but some of my guards have been wounded. My son, who was in the car with me, and I are both fine, I have some burns on my face and hand. The blast was strong.” His spokesman Razwan Murad further added, “This vicious terrorist attempt has failed and Saleh survived today’s bombing in Kabul.”
Bomb blast in Kabul
Amrullah Saleh, a former intelligence chief and an outspoken Taliban critic, has survived several assassination attempts, including one ahead of the presidential elections last year, which was an attack on his office that killed 20 people. The Taliban have pledged not to launch attacks in urban areas under a deal with the United States. Pakistan offered condolences for the dead while expressing relief at Saleh escaping relatively unharmed.
