Kabul: Suicide bombers targeted the office of a governor in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Paktia, killing at least four security personnel were dead on Thursday.
A group of suicide attackers, equipped with modern weapons and bombs stormed the offices in the Samkani district of Paktia.
Afghan officials said all of the attackers were killed in the clash.
A meeting between government and Nato officials was ongoing at the time of the attack.
One eyewitness, tribal elder Haji Mohammad Essa, told the BBC: ”I was sitting with the district governor when I heard a loud explosion.
“Some elders had come to ask the district governor and officials for security because some of them are nominated to come to Loya Jirga [tribal council].”
Two of the attackers detonated their explosive vests once inside the walls of the headquarters while the other two became involved in a firefight with police officers during which at least three security officers were killed.
Afghan officials said a bodyguard was among those killed in the attack.
The US military in Afghanistan said two coalition soldiers were wounded in the attack.
A mosque was also destroyed I a missile attack of coalition forces.
Paktia’s deputy governor allowed the forces to fire at the mosque from where the attackers were allegedly firing at the office.
A Taliban group has claimed the responsibility of the attack on the governor’s offices.
Many of those present were due to attend the Loya Jirga – being held in Kabul next week – and the Taliban had pledged to target anyone involved in the meeting.
The meeting is to discuss a strategy for making peace with the Taliban and the country’s relationship with the US.
Meanwhile, in the south of the country, Afghan police said a remote-controlled car bomb exploded near a Nato convoy, killing two Afghan men and wounding a young girl, AP reported.
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