At least 11 people, including children, have been killed in northern Afghanistan after a landmine exploded. The car they were in drove over the mine, regional authorities in Badghis province said.
Responsibility has not been claimed, but authorities accuse the Taliban of placing the landmine. The Taliban deny any involvement. A spokesperson emphasized on Twitter that the Islamic group is committed to peace.
The Taliban and the Afghan government have been negotiating a peace deal for months, but seem to be making little progress. Negotiating teams are back around the table in Qatar today. The Taliban have ensured the safety of Afghan diplomats, but officials see the attack in Badghis as evidence to the contrary.
Civilian casualties
As talks continue, violence threatens to flare up further. Usually the attacks target a government target, taking large numbers of civilian casualties for granted.
According to the UN, nearly 1,800 Afghan civilians were killed or injured in clashes between government forces and the Taliban in the first three months of this year.
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