Blast leaves 7 dead in Afghanistan

Sun, 02 May 2010 22:08:19 GMT

The bomb blast took place in Zormat district in the southeastern province of Paktia.
A powerful bomb blast has killed 7 people and injured 14 others in southeastern Afghanistan amid escalating violence in the war-weary country.

According to Afghan officials, the blast took place in Zormat district in the southeastern province of Paktia on Sunday. Eyewitnesses in the area say most of the victims are women and children.

There have been reports of heavy fighting between foreign forces and militants in the area before the blast. Thousands of Afghan civilians have lost their lives either in US-led strikes or in the Taliban-led militancy across the occupied country.

A report by the UN earlier said that over 2,400 civilians were killed in Afghanistan in 2009, the largest number of death toll since the 2001 US-led invasion.

The US led the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 to curb militancy and bring peace and stability to the country. Eight years on, however, Afghanistan still remains unstable and civilians continue to pay the price for the foreign presence.

Washington has been facing a growing anti-US sentiment in Afghanistan as most of the attacks result in heavy civilian casualties.

The foreign presence has so far failed to stabilize Afghanistan or bring peace and security to the war-torn country.

JR/GN