At Least 48 Killed in Suicide Blast in Afghan Capital Kabul

Kabul: The death toll from a suicide blast at an educational centre in a mainly Shi'ite area of the Afghan capital on Wednesday reached 48, with another 67 wounded, the health ministry said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, which came after several weeks of relative calm in Kabul but previous attacks on Shi'ite targets in the area have been claimed by Islamic State.

The public health ministry said 11 wounded had been brought to city hospitals, in addition to the nine killed.

The attack occurred as the government was facing heavy pressure over a Taliban attack on the central city of Ghazni which led to five days of intense fighting during which hundreds of civilians and members of the security forces were killed.

The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.