Afghanistan: Mortar round kills four people in Ghazni province March 30

Event

A mortar round hit a school in Andar district (Ghazni province) on Saturday, March 30, killing four people and wounding 17 others. While clashes were ongoing between Taliban militants and security forces in the area when the mortar shell hit the building, no group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Similar attacks are possible in Ghazni province over the near term.

Context

Taliban militants launch attacks on government personnel, security forces, and civilians in Afghanistan on a near-daily basis. Such assaults are, in part, intended to undermine the perceived capacity of Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) - and the Afghan government more broadly - to adequately provide security in the wake of the withdrawal of most US-led NATO forces from the country and to gain leverage amid ongoing peace negotiations.

Advice

Individuals in Afghanistan are advised to monitor developments to the situation, remain vigilant for militant activity, and adhere to instructions and advice issued by their home governments.