Taliban Launches Attack in Central Afghanistan Amid Intra-Afghan Summit in Qatar

Schoolchildren were among the injured during an attack carried out by the Taliban, Sunday, July 7, in Ghazni, central Afghanistan.

The Taliban detonated a vehicle-borne bomb near the national spy agency’s office in the central eastern Ghazni city. Sunday’s blast killed at least 12 people, including civilians, and injured more than 180 others.

The attack occurred while the U.S. and Taliban negotiators were conducting a seventh round of direct talks in Doha, Qatar, in a bid to bring an end to 18 years of Afghan hostilities.

Both sides are taking a break from the dialogue in support of Sunday’s intra-Afghan meeting, taking place between prominent Afghans and members of the Taliban, and they will resume discussions Tuesday.