Over 40 Killed in Fighting Across Afghanistan

Central bank manager, security officials killed in Logar

It is now less than 48 hours before the Eid al-Fitr holiday brings a ceasefire to Afghanistan, and it can’t happen soon enough for many, as fighting rages on several fronts around the country, and casualties continue to mount.

Officials claim 40 killed and 50 wounded across the country in the last 24 hours, with a number of them civilian bystanders. The single deadliest incident was a bombing of a bus in Zabul, which killed 11 civilians and wounded 29.

Logar Province saw several distinct attacks throughout the day, with five members of the NDS security forces killed, and the manager of the local central bank branch also slain. Mortars also wounded a number of other people.

Afghan troops were reported killed in Ghazni, Herat, Farah, Ghor, Badghis, Faryab, Paktika, and Khost Provinces. Human rights officials urged both sides to return to peace talks with a higher sense of urgency.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.