Explosion heard in Kabul city

The latest in a series of suicide bombings in Kabul targeted “Le Jardin”, one of a small number of restaurants in the city still frequented by foreigners.

Today’s incident comes three days after a suicide bomber detonated a Vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) close to Kabul airport, leaving at least one civilian dead and over 30 others wounded. “Apparently a restaurant has been attacked”, interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said, citing initial information.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack & stated the bomber focused a restaurant belonging to foreigners.

The explosion left a building in the area engulfed in flames, with firefighters rushing to the scene of the apparent militant attack.

Bajwa said the hotline was agreed during a recent visit to Kabul by Pakistan’s powerful army chief General Raheel Sharif.

Violence has been rising as the U.S.-led worldwide military coalition in Afghanistan has scaled down and focused more on training and advising the Afghan security forces.

Ruchi Kumar, a journalist in Kabul, told the BBC that the Le Jardin restaurant is well guarded, with several heavy metal doors and security checks.

The attack comes a day after Afghanistan announced four-way talks in Pakistan on January 11, aimed at jump-starting peace negotiations with the resurgent Taliban.

Taliban routinely exaggerates the death toll in attacks on government and foreign targets.

Afghan forces are now battling to push out Taliban insurgents who seized large swathes of the key opium-rich district of Sangin in southern Helmand province.