Mortar attack strikes Afghan independence day celebration

KABUL – An Afghan official says that a mortar attack killed two people and wounded more than 50 in the eastern province of Kunar.

Abdul Ghani Musamim, spokesman for the Kunar provincial governor, says two mortar shells hit Thursday morning in the provincial capital, Asad Abad. Musamim says the shells struck a market where crowds had gathered to celebrate Afghanistan’s independence day.

Afghan president Ashraf Ghani said Thursday in a speech that Afghanistan was not alone in its battle against Islamic militants like the Taliban and the Islamic State group. Ghani said the country had the backing of the international community and that Afghanistan would prevail.