This archive report was first published on 29 June 2020.
On June 29, 2020, a devastating series of explosions tore through a crowded market in the Sangin district of Helmand province, leaving a trail of death and destruction in its wake.
According to officials, the blasts, which occurred at 9:00 am local time, killed at least 23 civilians and wounded 15 others.
The governor's office and the army blamed the Taliban for the attack, citing the group's history of violence in the region.
However, the Taliban denied responsibility, instead accusing the Afghan army of firing the rockets that caused the explosions.
President Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack, calling it a 'terrorist attack' that had left several children dead.
As the country prepares to launch peace talks aimed at ending the nearly two-decade-old war, the violence has raised concerns about the prospects for a peaceful resolution.
