Afghan militants target home of MP, as Taliban ceasefire wavers

Afghan militants target home of MP, as Taliban ceasefire wavers
The home of an Afghan MP was targeted by militants on Friday, a day after the government announced an Eid ceasefire.
1 min read
08 June, 2018
Jalalabad has been a frequent target of militants [Anadolu/file photo]

An Afghan MPs home was targeted by two suicide bombers in eastern Nangarhar province on Friday, a day after the Kabul government announced a ceasefire for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr.

A police officer, a woman and her husband in the building were left dead, with five more injured, an official told AP, following the attack in in the provincial capital of Jalalabad.

Feridon Momand, an Afghan MP, appears to have been the target of the militants, but was not at his home at the time, Ataullah Khogyani, spokesman for the provincial governor said.

One of the suicide bombers was killed by police and a second was arrested, he added.

Momand said he owns the building and it is used by the Momand tribal council.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but it comes a day after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announced a week-long ceasefire against the Taliban, to commemorate the end of Ramadan and start of Eid.

Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group are not covered by the ceasefire.

The Taliban launched their annual Spring Offensive earlier this year, which sees an increase in attacks on government targets.