Explosion rocks Kabul near French restaurant popular with foreigners; Taliban claims attack

“We are busy extinguishing the fire at the scene”, he added.

Meanwhile, in the southern province of Kandahar, a woman distributing polio vaccinations to children was shot dead by unknown gunmen, said Samim Khpolwak, spokesman for the provincial governor.

The restaurant, a chic French bistro where diners could order a steak, listen to American pop music and find themselves seated near an Afghan government official, had beefed up its security in recent years.

Ahmad Parwaiz a local resident said “windows were shattered and our house was damaged”.

Sediqqi later said one suspect had been arrested but did not elaborate.

A police official said five people had been wounded in the blast, although a Taliban Twitter account said many “invaders” had been wounded or killed.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed the death toll was actually higher, and that the Taliban believed “several” foreigners had been slain in the strike.

At least three people killed and 15 injured in the latest in a series of deadly assaults in Afghanistan’s capital.

According to a number of Afghan media reports, the restaurant was running a special New Year’s promotion at the time.

The attack comes just days after Pakistan army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif visited Kabul to try to prepare the ground for fresh peace talks with the Taliban.

Afghanistan has long said Pakistan is harboring Taliban leaders and sponsoring the insurgency as a means of exerting control over Kabul, a charge that Pakistan rejects, saying it too is a victim of terrorism.

Friday’s attack was not the first to target a Western-style establishment.

The establishment of the hot line is seen as a major development as it would end to the mistrust between the two sides and will give a boost to security cooperation.

Afghanistan and Pakistan are renewing efforts to forge peace in the new year, scheduling a round of talks in Pakistan for January 11.