A car bomb tore into central Kabul on Thursday, with casualties feared in yet another attack on the Afghan capital as the US and Taliban negotiate a deal to see American troops leave the country.
The blast shook Shash Darak, a heavily fortified area adjacent to the Green Zone and home to several important complexes including the National Directorate of Security (NDS), the Afghan intelligence service.
"We confirm an explosion in the Shash Darak area" at about 10:10 am (0540 GMT), interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said, adding the blast had been caused by a car bomb.
An Afghan security official told AFP there had been casualties, and that the blast took place near a checkpoint. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
Massoud Zazai, who owns a photo studio across the street from the blast site, said he was in his shop when the explosion happened.
"I fell off my chair and it got dark inside the shop because of smoke and dust," Zazai told AFP.
"I went out to the scene moments after the attack, the side of the road was littered with debris and bodies."
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