By Zabihullah Tamanna
KABUL, Afghanistan
At least seven policemen and two civilians were killed while two others were wounded in explosions in Afghanistan on Monday.
According to the Ministry of Interior, four policemen, including their commander, and two civilians were killed in the capital Kabul when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb.
“Policemen were on a mission when they were killed by enemies of the country today at 10:45 am local time. Two other policemen were also injured in the incident,” the ministry said. “The Afghan interior ministry strongly condemns this cowardly terrorist act.”
In a similar development in northern Baghlan province, at least three police officers were killed when their vehicle hit a landmine during a clearing operation on Monday.
The operation was being conducted to counter the increasing threat from insurgents in the Charshanbe Tepa of the Baghlan Markazi district.
An Afghan police officer told Anadolu Agency, on condition of anonymity, that two policemen were also wounded in the incident.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for both incidents, claiming they had killed 11 policemen -- a number rejected by Afghan officials.
“At least six policemen were killed in Kabul's explosion while four others were killed in Baghlan province,” a Taliban spokesman said in a message sent to AA.
