A suicide bomber detonated explosives on Sunday at the gate of the ministry near its parking area, ministry spokesman Fraidoon Azhand told CNN. The blast took place about 4:30 p.m. local time as staff were leaving to go home.
The attack comes as the UN released a report stating the number of Afghan civilians killed in the first six months of this year has reached a record high. Almost 1,700 civilians were killed from January 1 to June 30, a total higher than at any comparable time over the last 10 years, according to the UN.
In late April, 10 journalists were among 31 people killed in a series of attacks in Afghanistan. And in May, an explosion at a mosque in Khost killed at least 14 people.
In February, the Afghan government announced it would be willing to recognize the Taliban, the Islamist militant group, as a legitimate political party as part of a potential ceasefire agreement.
Source : Nbcnewyork
