The convoy of contractors and Afghan civilians was the target, he said.

The Taliban quickly denied it was behind in the attack in Kabul’s Macrorayan neighbourhood, though the militants increasingly have been targeting Kabul in recent weeks and often don’t claim attacks that maim civilians.

“We are investigating the nature of the bombing and whether there are any casualties”. “Out of respect for their privacy, we will not be providing additional information at this time”.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said that his country is in consultations with Washington on various issues and action is being taken against all enemies of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The United Nations said August 6 was the bloodiest day for Afghan civilians in the capital since 2011.

During the Taliban regime of Mullah Omar in Kabul that was what Afghanistan was.

For, the Pakistani military has only one single objective to retain its hold on the Pakistani masses led by religious orthodoxy: inflict wounds on India even if a direct confrontation is not worthwhile. The group returned empty-handed. “The US decision is also likely to sour ties in the run-up to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s scheduled visit to White House in October”, it added. Dostum, an ethnic Uzbek who led a personal army fighting the Taliban regime before the 2001 US military intervention and who is accused by rights groups of involvement in war crimes, joined the political mainstream past year as President Ashraf Ghani’s running mate.

Kabul police spokesman Ebadullah Karimi told AFP.

It was believed to be the worst loss of American life in a single episode this year in Afghanistan since U.S. forces have mostly withdrawn, leaving less than 10,000 soldiers.

A crucial meeting of Afghan Taliban leaders and scholars has been in session for days now at an undisclosed location.

Analysts say Pakistan’s motivation in harboring insurgents is to influence its strategically located neighbor, and to keep Indian and Iranian interests out.

They said that the road in the area is used by government officials and security convoys. Pakistan has made no comment on the allegation.

Fraidoon Obaidi, the head of Kabul’s Criminal Investigation Department, said officials were investigating the bombing.

The Taliban distanced themselves from a second round of talks that were scheduled for the end of July after the announcement of Omar’s death.

“It it is up to Afghans to decide about further steps in this regard”, he said.