Blast near Afghan President Ghani's campaign rally; 24 killed

An explosion has struck Parwan province, close to where Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani was holding a campaign rally on Tuesday.

An explosion has struck Parwan province, close to where Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani was holding a campaign rally on Tuesday, according to local media reports. Initial reports suggest that the gathering was not directly hit by the blast near Ghani's campaign rally. Interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said the bomber had been on a motorbike and had detonated at the first checkpoint leading to the rally. Ghani was unhurt.

Officials have said that casualties are feared due to the blast near Afghanistan President Ghani's campaign rally but the exact number was not clear yet.

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Update 1: At least 24 people have been killed and 32 wounded after a suicide blast outside a campaign rally being held by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in central Parwan province on Tuesday, a hospital official said. "The toll includes women and children," Parwan hospital director Dr. Abdul Qasim Sangin told AFP.

Update 2: Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack. The militant group also claimed responsibility for the attack in Kabul that was conducted right after the blast in Parwan.