Taliban Claims Responsibility for Attacking Afghan DM's House

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack on the house of Afghan Defense Minister Gen. Bismillah Khan Mohammadi in Kabul on Tuesday.

According to RIA Novosti, the organisation then threatened future assaults against prominent Afghan government officials.

Several explosions and sporadic gunfire were reported late Tuesday in the Afghan capital near the residence of the acting defence minister.

Witnesses claim that a car was blown up near the cabinet minister's home, and that six armed guys then entered the building. For more than four hours, government forces fought the mysterious gunman.

Following the "terrorist attack" on his home, Mohammadi later said that he and his family were safe. According to accounts, some of his security officers were injured in the event.

At least eight people were killed and more than 20 others were injured in the vehicle bombing near Mohammadi's home, according to the country's Interior Ministry.

The attack occurred as the Taliban intensified their fight against US-backed government forces in an attempt to retake control of Afghanistan as American forces prepare to leave after a 20-year war.

According to the insurgent organisation, it controls 85 percent of the country's territory and 90 percent of the border areas. These assertions have been denied by the Afghan administration and described as propaganda.