Afghan officials call it celebratory fireworks.
KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban claimed responsibility Sunday for a rocket attack on Kabul’s diplomatic area which came just after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry ended a surprise visit by calling on the insurgents to come to the negotiating table to end the 15-year war.
Kerry told reporters late Saturday in Kabul that “the people of Afghanistan should be demanding that the Taliban, who are the only people holding out on that possibility, actually engage in (the peace) process.”
A Taliban spokesman said on Sunday that the rocket attack, which caused no casualties, was meant to undermine Kerry’s visit.
“This shows foreigners cannot remain safe in any spot in the country and we can target them wherever they are,” said Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. “We couldn’t know exactly where he was (but) at least we could sabotage his visit and send a message he is not welcome here.”
According to officials, at least two rockets hit the heavily-guarded diplomatic zone in the late evening. By that time, Kerry was at Bagram Air Field, 35 miles north of the capital, getting ready to leave the country.
Kerry was in town to participate in the third meeting of the U.S.-Afghan Bilateral Commission, to underscore the commitment of both countries towards a stable, self-reliant Afghanistan. The two sides agreed that to achieve stability, the Taliban must engage in dialogue.
“Today we call on the Taliban to enter into a peace process — a legitimate process, a real process — that provides equal rights protection for all Afghans and brings to an end the violence and suffering that the people of this country have endured for so many years,” Kerry said at the joint press conference with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.