Activists launching attack on midwife training center in Afghanistan city

KABUL – A militant attack on a midwife training center in eastern Afghanistan.

At least 67 people, including students and teachers, were inside the center in Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province, at the time of the attack, provincial governor spokesman Attaullah Khogyani said.

Nangarhar Police Chief Ghulam Sanyee Stanikzai said Two people – a guard and a driver – were killed and five others wounded.

There was no immediate claim for responsibility, but most of the recent badaults in the city by the Islamic State group, which has a stronghold in Nangarhar

The Taliban denied involvement in a WhatsApp message sent to reporters.

Provincial health department spokesman Inamullah Miakhil said 48 women from remote districts o The province was enrolled in the two-year midwifery race.

The training facility, which is near the center of Jalalabad in several international organizations and consulates, was funded by the Ministry of Public Health. ] "We do not know why the midwife center cam under attack," Miakhil said, adding that they are all at the same time. gunmen enter the street where the midwife center is located.

Some of the security forces appeared to dismantle improvised explosive devices allegedly planted in the street by the militants, a witness said.

Jalalabad has been the scene of several attacks In recent months that have killed dozens, as US and Afghan forces continue offensive operations against IS and Taliban militants.

Government buildings are a common target for insurgents, including h ospitals and medical facilities.

It is not known why the gunmen targeted the midwife training center. Midwives have been attacked in the past, but such attacks appear to be rare.

Islamist groups – and many ordinary Afghans – also oppose women working outside the home.

The last major attack in Jalalabad has been trained as a midwives since the 2001 US-led invasion, Afghanistan still has one of the highest maternal and child mortality rates in the world.

city, sparking an hourslong battle with security forces.

At least 11 people were killed in the attack.

A suicide bomb attack claimed by IS on a crowd of Afghan Sikhs and Hindus in Jalalabad on July 1 killed at least 19 people and wounded 21.

The Taliban is Afghanistan's largest militant group and IS has a relatively small but powerful presence, mainly in the east and north of the country.

Intensified aerial and ground

An unprecedented three-day cease-fire involving Afghan security forces and the Taliban last month did not include IS.

The first formal nationwide truce since 2001 was marred by two IS suicide attacks in Nangarhar.

While the Afghan government and its foreigners are seeking a peace deal with the Taliban, US forces have repeatedly said they plan to annihilate IS. [196] 59025] LATEST WORLD STORIES

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