Afghan blasts kill one, injure scores in attack on key US military base

Attack was “quickly contained and repelled” and there were no US or coalition casualties says NATO-led mission

KABUL: Suicide blasts in Afghanistan killed one person and injured more than 60 in an attack on Wednesday on the United States’ main military base of Bagram that was repulsed after a 30-minute clash, Afghan and NATO officials said.

The attack comes as the United States looks to revive stalled peace talks with Taliban militants who control more territory than at any point since being ousted from power by coalition forces in 2001.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Wednesday’s blast, but a provincial official said the casualties were all Afghans.



“A 30-minute clash also happened between the attackers, who obviously wanted to enter the base, and foreign forces,” she told Reuters.

Two attackers detonated vehicles laden with explosives at the southern entrance to the base, while five opened fire. It was not immediately clear how many of the five gunmen were killed, Shahkar said.

The attack was “quickly contained and repelled” and there were no US or coalition casualties, but a medical base being built for locals was badly damaged, Resolute Support, the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan, said in a statement.