Nearly 80 killed in Afghan attacks in November

Nearly 80 people were killed and about 150 wounded in bombings and attacks across Afghanistan last month, according to official figures. A total of 26 major bomb attacks, including nine suicide bombings, took place in various parts of the country in November. The Taliban insurgent group has intensified attacks since they launched a rebel offensive against Afghan forces and more than 86, 000 NATO-led coalition troops in April this year. The bloodiest suicide blast occurred in the country's capital city Kabul on Nov. 16. A Taliban suicide bomber set off his explosive-laden minibus after security forces identified and shot him near the venue of the Loya Jirga or consultative national assembly in western Kabul. Thirteen people, including three security forces were killed and 30 others wounded in the powerful explosion which also destroyed 17 vehicles and 18 shops. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. On Friday, Nov. 29, three suicide attacks rocked the country. One child and a soldier were killed and 11 others, including two U. S. soldiers, were wounded in two separate suicide bombings in southern Helmand and neighboring Kandahar province. Helmand and Kandahar are notorious for growing poppy and are known Taliban hotbed. On the same day, Hamidullah Tokhi, a representative of southern Zabul province in Lower House of the parliament, along with four others were wounded in a suicide blast in Kabul. The incident took place after a man disguised as a visitor detonated explosives attached to his turban inside Tokhi's Kabul house after meeting him. During the month of November, 17 improvised explosive device ( IED) or roadside bomb blasts took place in the country, with bulk of the victim civilians. In one blast, seven children were killed and three injured in eastern Pakitka province on Nov. 18. At least 12 targeted killings occurred in different provinces last month, claiming the lives of several government officials and local leaders. Local analysts feared that the Taliban would continue their attacks across the country as Afghan army and police took the lead in combat operations and the country prepares for the presidential election slated for early next year. Most of the foreign forces are due to withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of next year. The exact number of the casualties on Afghan army and police is not revealed and remained unknown. The country's Interior Ministry figures showed that more than 280 militants were killed, 290 arrested and over 75 wounded as a result of a series of military operations last month across the central Asian country.