In a goodwill gesture, Pakistan on Sunday released 18

The attack in Pul-i-Alam, capital of volatile Logar province, also left 23 prosecutors wounded as they were meeting to decide the fate of six newly arrested Taliban militants.

The head of the court was among those killed in the attack, which comes as the Taliban step up their annual spring offensive after naming a new leader late last month.

“Three gunmen entered the court building and started shooting people at close range,” Salim Saleh, the provincial governor’s spokesman, told AFP. “Seven people were killed including Mohammad Akram Nejat, the newly appointed head of the court.” 

Hasib Stanakzai, a member of Logar’s provincial council, confirmed the death toll.

The Taliban said the attack was in retaliation for the execution of six Taliban-linked inmates in early May, part of President Ashraf Ghani’s new hardline policy against the insurgents.

“The martyrdom attack was carried out in revenge for the execution of our mujahideen,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Twitter. The violence underscores Afghanistan’s fragile security situation as the militants intensify attacks against the Western-backed government.