Attacks kill 3 coalition troops in Afghanistan

Reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan — A suicide bombing Sunday that the Taliban claims was carried out by an Afghan army recruit killed two members of the United States-led international force in eastern Afghanistan, military officials said.

Separately, a third member of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force died “following an insurgent attack” in southern Afghanistan, according to a news release that provided no further details.

At least two Afghan civilians were killed and 18 people were wounded in the suicide bombing, said Ruhollah Samon, a spokesman for the provincial government.

The bombing took place near a small marketplace in or around Gardez, the capital of the volatile province of Paktia, a forbidding and mountainous region that borders Pakistan.

Samon said the 1:30 p.m. blast struck a marketplace inside an army base. A news release released by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization force said the bombing took place outside a forward operating base.

A Taliban spokesman going by the name of Zabiullah Mujahid said in an e-mail to reporters that the suicide bomber, whom he identified as Gul Rasool, joined the Afghan army “some time ago” with the intent of killing foreign troops.

“He managed to carry all necessary material with himself inside the corps,” Mujahid said. “He carried out the attack inside the Sunday bazaar, which is used by foreign troops.”

Mujahid cited casualty figures that did not match those provided by the provincial governor or the NATO force, which did not disclose the nationalities of the deceased troops.

Last week, Karl Eikenberry, the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, visited Gardez to observe American-led reconstruction efforts.

[email protected]

Special correspondent Aimal Yaqubi contributed to this report.