Bombing at funeral kills 15 in eastern Afghanistan

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan

As many as 15 people have been killed and more than 10 others wounded in a suspected suicide attack targeting a funeral in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, officials said.

Attaullah Khogyani, spokesman for the governor of eastern Nangarhar province, told Anadolu Agency that the attack took place on the outskirts of Jalalabad city in Muqam Khan neighborhood, where the locals had gathered for the funeral prayers of a district governor in the afternoon.

He said the investigations have been launched into the incident.

The local Tolo News stated that it was a suicide attack. Most of victims are relatives and associated with Haji Gul Wali, the late governor of the restive Haska Maina neighborhood.

There has been no immediate claim of responsibility.

Haska Maina is one of the restive districts of Nangarhar province, where the Taliban and pro-Daesh militants are active in areas bordering Pakistan’s troubled tribal belt.

Dr. Ehsanullah Shinwari, director of regional public hospital in the provincial capital Jalalabad, has confirmed the death toll.

“As I am talking to you now, bodies of 15 martyred and 14 injured people have been brought to the hospital; some of them are in critical condition,” Shinwari said.