Gunmen kill police officer on way to work in war-torn Afghanistan
Female police officers attend an event ahead of International Women's Day, in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 7, 2021. (EPA)


Attackers gunned down a female police officer on Thursday in eastern Afghanistan as she was headed to work, provincial officials said, the latest targeted killing in the war-torn country.

Provincial police spokesperson Fared Khan said the officer shot in the city of Jalalabad was wounded but later died at the hospital.

Two suspects have been arrested by police. Afghanistan has seen a nationwide spike in bombings, targeted killings and violence on the battlefield as peace negotiations in Qatar between the Taliban and the Afghan government have stalled.

The attack comes three days after another incident in Jalalabad in which three women working to administer polio vaccines in the city were killed.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks in Jalalabad, but eastern Afghanistan has witnessed an increase of attacks by Daesh. Earlier last month, Daesh claimed responsibility for the killing of another three women who worked for a local radio and TV station, also in Jalalabad.

Many other attacks have gone unclaimed. The government blames most on a resurgent Taliban, who today hold sway over nearly half the country.

The Taliban, in turn, deny any role in some of the attacks and blame the government.