ISLAMABAD– A sticky bomb exploded in northeastern Afghanistan, killing at least three police officers on Wednesday, officials said.
Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesman for the Taliban’s Interior Ministry, said the bomb, which was “attached to a motorcycle, exploded in Faizabad, the capital of Badakhshan province,” as a convoy of security forces passed by. adding that five other officers were injured.
Qani said officers were on their way to destroy poppy crops in the area.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack.
A few days ago, Badakhshan witnessed violent protests against the Taliban’s opium poppy eradication campaign, prompting a high-ranking delegation led by military chief of staff Fasihudin Fitrat to visit the region and negotiate with protesters. .
Fitrat said in a video message on Tuesday that he had addressed people’s complaints and the situation was under control. He added that locals supported the eradication of poppy throughout Badakhshan.
Protests broke out on Friday after Taliban forces shot dead a man after resisting poppy eradication attempts in Darayum district. Another was killed on Saturday during a protest in the Argo district.