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Thirty Taliban Fighters Killed In Afghanistan During Bomb-Making Class

Thirty Taliban Fighters Killed In Afghanistan During Bomb-Making Class

The blast was so severe that the faces of the foreign fighters couldn't be recognised.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

At least 30 Taliban fighters have been killed after a bomb accidentally detonated during a bomb making class.

The Afghan National Army has released a statement on social media confirming the blast was so severe that the faces of the foreign fighters couldn't be recognised.

The 209th Shaheen Corps explained the Taliban group included at least six foreign nationals who were apparently expert mine makers.

The explosion happened at a mosque in the village of Qultaq in the Dowlatabad district of Balkh province on Saturday (February 13).

Despite their expertise, they had gathered at the Afghani mosque to learn more about how to create different types of bombs, including improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

While peace talks between the Taliban and Afghan government officials have been ongoing in Qatar, there has been an escalation in violence in the country.

According to the Associated Press, there has been a nationwide increase in the number of bombings and targeted killings.

NATO is weighing up whether to withdraw the roughly 10,000 troops from the region and will meet this week to make a final decision.

The international body has been urged by the Taliban to leave the country and never come back.

The self-described Sunni Islamic fundamentalist political movement and military organisation said in a statement: "Our message to the upcoming NATO ministerial meeting is that the continuation of occupation and war is neither in your interest nor in the interest of your and our people.

"Anyone seeking extension of wars and occupation will be held liable for it just like the previous two decades."

Donald Trump managed to strike a deal with the Taliban last year to extract foreign troops from Afghanistan by May this year.

PA

According to VOA News, Joe Biden said that agreement would be reviewed over allegations the Taliban wasn't holding up their promise to reduce violence in the country.

As a result of the threat, the Taliban said it would continue to 'fight and jihad' if troops from overseas aren't removed by the three month deadline.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said it won't be an easy decision on whether to get the thousands of troops out of there.

"If we decide to leave we risk to jeopardize the peace process, we risk to lose the gains we have made in the fight against international terrorism over the last years," the NATO chief said earlier this month.

"If we decide to stay we risk to continue to be in a difficult military operation in Afghanistan and we risk increased violence also against NATO troops."

Featured Image Credit: PA (Stock Photo)

Topics: News