Smoke rises from the site of a blast and gunbattle between Afghan security forces and a handful of militants in Jalalabad city, Afghanistan on Sunday. (Reuters photo)KABUL: At least nine people were killed and more than 30 injured when militants detonated bombs and stormed a government building Sunday in a continuing attack in an eastern Afghan city, officials said. Some areas of the province are a stronghold of the Islamic State group but Taliban fighters are also active there. It was the latest deadly violence to strike Afghanistan as militant groups step up attacks and US-backed Afghan forces intensify air strikes and ground offensives. The Taliban recently launched their annual spring offensive, in an apparent rejection of a peace overture by the Afghan government.

Source: Bangkok Post May 13, 2018 11:03 UTC