Seven killed as Muslim festival hit by suicide bombers

The bombers struck as Muslims were leaving a mosque on the outskirts of Old Baghlan City after prayers at the start of the Eid al-Adha, the Feast of the Sacrifice.

At least 18 other people were taken to hospitals with injuries sustained in the attack in Hassin Tal, about six miles east of the city.

One bomber blew himself up, while the second was captured before he could set off his explosives, a police spokesman said.

The bombings raise questions about Afghan forces’ ability to tackle the insurgency head-on without their Nato partners.

Nato is working to handing over full security responsibilities to Afghan forces before the end of 2014, when the coalition plans to withdraw its combat troops.

Nato officials say attacks such as yesterday’s bombing have little impact on the balance of strength between the government and the insurgents.

Kamen Khan, the police chief in Old Baghlan City, said one of the two dead local police commanders was a well-known local leader.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the Taliban, against whom Nato has waged a decade-long war, routinely target Afghan officials and security forces as well as international forces.

Separately, Nato said that one of its service members was killed in an insurgent attack in the south on Saturday.

The death raises to 494 the number of coalition troops killed in the country so far this year. Nato provided no other details.

As the US-led coalition and its Afghan partners have focused their operations on Taliban strongholds in the south and east, the insurgency has carried out an increasing number of attacks in the north and west.

Shortly before the morning attack, the country’s president, Hamid Karzai, greeted Afghans on the holiday. Breaking with past speeches marking the occasion, he made no mention of reconciliation with the Taliban and did not call on its leaders to break from the insurgency.

Later yesterday, Mr Karzai met Australian prime minister Julia Gillard, who made an unannounced trip to the country.