Rocket targets Afghan governor's office

At least five people were injured in the attack

Kunar governor's office in Afghanistan. Courtesy the Kunar Government Office

A rocket attack was carried out on the office of the governor of Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province on Monday morning, wounding at least five people, the governor's office said.

The attack occurred at about 9.30am while dozens of people attended a Quran recitation competition at the office in the city of Asadabad.

Three security guards and two organisers of the competition were wounded, the governor's office said.

It blamed the Taliban for the attack.

Afghanistan has been facing an escalation in violence and peace talks between the government and the Taliban have stalled several times.

On Friday, the foreign ministers of Turkey, Pakistan and Afghanistan called on the Taliban to reaffirm their commitment to reach a negotiated settlement for lasting peace in Afghanistan.

In a joint statement issued after talks in Istanbul, the three ministers underlined "the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire" to end the violence and "provide a conducive atmosphere" for peace talks.

A US-backed Afghan peace conference to be hosted in Istanbul by Turkey, Qatar and the UN on Saturday was postponed after the Taliban refused to participate.

Ankara said the talks would be held after Ramadan but no new date has been set.

Meanwhile, the top US and Nato forces commander in Afghanistan said on Sunday that an orderly withdrawal of foreign forces had begun.

US Army Gen Scott Miller said he was acting on orders based on US President Joe Biden's move to end America's longest war.

Mr Biden said this month that the prolonged and intractable battle in Afghanistan was no longer aligned with American priorities.

He said he would withdraw troops from Afghanistan before September 11, the 20th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon that led to the US invasion in 2001.