(MENAFN- The Peninsula) A Taliban truck bomber detonated around a tonne of explosives outside a government complex in southern Afghanistan on Monday, wounding at least 40 people as the summer fighting season sends civilian casualties surging.
Women and children were among those injured in the attack at the gate of the complex in Zabul province, which includes several government buildings including the provincial council.
The attack comes as the Taliban step up attacks on government and foreign targets despite Kabul´s repeated overtures to the insurgent group to reopen peace negotiations.
"Around 40 people were wounded in the suicide attack on the complex" in the provincial capital Qalat, local police chief Mirwais Noorzai told AFP.
"Around 1,000 kilograms of explosives were used in the attack," he added.
Deputy police chief Ghulam Jailani Farahi confirmed the casualties, adding that the wounded were all civilians and some were in critical condition.
But provincial council chief Atta Jan Haqbayan gave a higher toll, saying 67 people were wounded, including 17 women.
The Taliban, waging a 13-year war against the US-backed Afghan government, claimed responsibility for the attack.
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