Hekmatyar safe as blast hits HIA office mosque in Kabul

KABUL (Pajhwok): A bomb blast took place inside a mosque in the premises of the Hezb-i-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) office in Kabul on Friday, sources said.

Humayun Jarir, cultural affairs head of the party, confirmed to Pajhwok Afghan News the blast inside the HIA office’s mosque. He said the blast took place in the afternoon.

He did not provide more details, but said HIA leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar was unhurt in the attack.

Meanwhile, social media users said first a car bomb was detonated and then two attackers tried to enter the mosque, but they were killed.

Armed men failed to reach Gulbuddin Hekmatyar when they fired at his guards , an official of the group, Ghairat Baheer, told Dawn.com.

Hekmatyar routinely delivers Friday sermons at his party central office in the Afghan capital and three gunmen tried to reach the mosque, Baheer said. He said two guards of Hekmatyar were injured.

“The Hizb-e-Islami guards killed two attackers and one has gone missing,” he said. “Hekmatyar and other party leaders are safe,” he said.

Government officials have not yet spoken about the incident.

More details to follow soon.

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