Afghan president vows revenge as Kabul death toll climbs

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani vowed on Wednesday to avenge "every drop of blood" from this week's suicide attack in Kabul, as officials more than doubled the death toll to 64.

The attack hit an office of the national security services, in an area close to the heart of the government and diplomatic area. Most of the casualties, including 347 wounded, were civilians, Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said.

But around 30 members of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) died in the attack, most shot by gunmen who rushed into the complex after a vehicle packed with explosives blew up at the entrance to the compound, according to lawmakers.

The Taliban quickly claimed the attack, the deadliest single incident of its kind in Kabul since 2011 which came only days after the Islamist insurgent movement announced the start of its annual spring offensive.

But it rejected the statement about civilian casualties, accusing the government of "malicious propaganda". The Taliban said 92 security service personnel had been killed in the attack, although they often exaggerate casualty figures.

Smashed windows and damaged shop fronts hundreds of meters away attested to the strength of the blast, which tore through the area.

The attack, which Ghani called "unjust, un-Islamic and inhumane", appeared to destroy any hopes of reviving the stalled peace process, which the Taliban had already rejected. - Read More

Afghan president vows revenge as Kabul death toll climbs

Second blast hits Kabul following deadly suicide attack