Deadly Taliban attack in Kabul rattles US deal on ending war

Kabul: The Taliban on Tuesday defended their suicide bombing against an international compound in the Afghan capital that killed at least 16 civilians and wounded 119 people, just hours after a US envoy said he and the militant group had reached a deal "in principle" to end America's longest war.

Angry Kabul residents whose homes were shredded in the explosion climbed over the buckled blast wall and set part of the compound, a frequent target of the militants, on fire.

Thick smoke rose from the Green Village, home to several foreign organisations and guesthouses, whose location has become a peril to nearby local residents as well.

"People were screaming and saying, 'My children are trapped in the rubble,'" one witness, Faiz Ahmad, said. A large crater was left in the street.

The Taliban continue such attacks even as a US envoy says the deal with the insurgents only needs the approval of President Donald Trump to become a reality. The accord would include a troop withdrawal that the Taliban already portray as their victory.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told The Associated Press that "we understand that peace talks are going on... but they must also understand that we are not weak and if we enter into talks... we enter from a strong position."

He said the attack was a response to raids by US and Afghan forces on civilians in other parts of the country. While he acknowledged there should be less harm to civilians, he said they shouldn't be living near such an important foreign compound.

Interior Ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said some 400 foreigners had been rescued after the suicide bomber targeted the compound late on Monday. Five other attackers were shot and killed by security forces after the suicide bomber detonated a tractor packed with explosives, he said.

The attack occurred just hours after the US envoy briefed the Afghan government on an agreement "in principle" with the Taliban that would see 5,000 US troops withdraw from five bases in the country within 135 days of a final deal.

Between 14,000 and 13,000 troops are currently in the country.

The Green Village also was hit by a suicide car bomber in January, again as the US

envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad, was visiting the capital to brief the Afghan government on his negotiations with the

Taliban on ending nearly 18 years of fighting.