KABUL: An explosion near a checkpoint at Kabul’s military airport on Sunday killed and wounded several people, a spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Interior Ministry said, as authorities launch an investigation into the blast. 

A bomb exploded near the entrance of the facility in the Afghan capital on Sunday morning, ministry spokesman Abdul Nafi Takoor said.

“A number of our countrymen were martyred and wounded as a result of a bomb blast that took place outside Kabul military airport,” Takoor told Arab News.

He gave no exact figures or further information about the bombing, saying that more details will be shared later. Local media outlets, citing security sources, said at least 10 people were killed and eight others wounded.

Residents who were near the facility said a loud explosion was heard at around 8 a.m.

“We were near the scene of the incident in the morning,” an eyewitness identified as Mohammad Fahim told local media. “God protected us. The incident happened around eight o’clock this morning. There were some casualties.”

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the new year’s day attack, but a regional affiliate of the Daesh — known as Islamic State Khorasan Province, or ISIS-K — has increased their assaults since the Taliban takeover in August 2021.

The security situation in Afghanistan has been deteriorating in recent months, with ISIS-K claiming multiple attacks that targeted Russian, Pakistani and Chinese diplomats and civilians in Kabul. Other targets included Taliban patrols and members of Afghanistan’s Shiite minority.

Last month, at least two Chinese nationals and more than a dozen others were wounded when attackers from the group stormed a Chinese-run hotel and residential complex in the center of the city.

The string of attacks came at a time when the Taliban’s Islamic Emirate is attempting to court international recognition as the official government of Afghanistan.

Gen. Sadiq Shinwari, who was active during the previous Afghan administration, said the assaults will affect stability in the country. 

“If the Taliban do not pay attention to this point in security matters, then the security situation may go out of control not only in Afghanistan but also in the region, which will be a risk for instability in the future,” Shinwari told Arab News. 

“The international community may be forced to take action because of the threat of terrorist groups (in Afghanistan).”