At least three people were killed, and seven others were injured due to an explosion at a hotel in southeast Afghanistan’s Khost province on Monday, as the provincial media office said.
The explosion occurred at a city hotel commonly visited by Afghan individuals and refugees from North Waziristan, a militant stronghold in Pakistan situated along the Afghanistan border, according to Mustaghfir Gurbaz, a police spokesperson in Khost.
Gurbaz said that the officers were actively engaged in an investigation to find out the root cause of the explosive blast and who was behind it.
The Khost media office reported that individuals hailing from Pakistan’s Waziristan region, situated just across the border, and known for hosting various militant groups for years, were among those who suffered casualties.
Gurbaz offered no details regarding the Pakistani refugees’ lodging at the hotel. Pakistani authorities have indicated that elements of the Pakistani Taliban recognized as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, are hiding in Khost and elsewhere in Afghanistan.
Police have reported that the deceased and the injured individuals have been transported to the hospital. Additionally, the leadership of the provincial administration has issued directives to ensure that the injured receive appropriate and adequate medical care.
Security forces have cordoned off the area and started investigating the incident.
Previously, Pakistani officials asserted that numerous TTP leaders and fighters had taken shelter in Afghanistan after the Taliban took over power in the country.
This situation has bolstered the TTP’s self-confidence. However, the Taliban administration in Kabul has denied these allegations, affirming its commitment to preventing the exploitation of Afghanistan’s territory against others.
