Peshawar, June 30: Three rockets hit a neighbourhood near a United Nations office in eastern Afghanistan today, shattering windows in nearby houses, but not causing any injuries, security officials said.
The rockets slammed into the Torkham Adda neighbourhood of Jalalabad, the capital of eastern Nangarhar province, a security official said on condition of anonymity.
"We think it is the work of Taliban and al-Qaeda people", the security official said. No one claimed responsibility for the attack, but Taliban and al-Qaeda fugitives are known to be hiding in the area. This was the second attack since April that appeared to target the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) office in Jalalabad. In April, insurgents tossed a hand grenade, shattering windows and damaging an office vehicle. There were no injuries. A second security official said the authorities have ordered an investigation into the attack. Early investigations indicated the rocket was fired from an arid plain nearby.

Rocket attacks against government buildings as well as offices of international aid organisations are common in Afghanistan.

Suspected Taliban often issue pamphlets that circulate in eastern and southern Afghanistan, urging afghans not to work for foreigners or for the government of Afghan president Hamid Karzai. They also urge the faithful to wage a jihad, or holy war, against coalition forces in Afghanistan.

Bureau Report