Bloody bombing in Afghanistan, more than 50 people died

"A suicide bomber detonated an explosive device inside a wedding hall near Kabul's airport where Muslim scholars had gathered to celebrate the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad,"Reutersquoted Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish as saying yesterday.

More than 50 people were killed and more than 80 were injured, making it one of the deadliest bombings in Afghanistan since 2001. Officials at Kabul hospital said 30 ambulances were at the scene and more than 40 people were in critical condition.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani called the bombing an "un-Islamic" and "unforgivable" act, declaring a national day of mourning on November 21 to commemorate the victims.

The Taliban and the Islamic State (IS) group have both attacked government-affiliated religious scholars in Afghanistan. However, no group has claimed responsibility, while the Taliban has said it has "no involvement" and condemned the bombing.

Afghan security forces have struggled to contain attacks by Islamist militants since the withdrawal of most NATO forces in 2014. Despite diplomatic efforts to end the 17-year conflict, the security situation in Afghanistan has worsened markedly in recent years.

In September, a suicide attack targeting protesters against the appointment of a police chief in Nangarhar province killed at least 68 people and wounded 165. Earlier, the Taliban claimed responsibility for blowing up an ambulance on a busy road in central Kabul, killing more than 100 people.