Play all audios:
ISIS group claimed responsibility for an attack on Monday, 9 March, near the presidential palace in Afghanistan where rival presidential inaugurations were taking place. > “Caliphate
soldiers targeted the inauguration of the tyrant Ashraf > Ghani”, firing 10 rockets near the presidential palace in Kabul, > the jihadist group said in a statement released via its
usual social > media channels. Two blasts were heard as Afghanistan's two rival leaders held parallel presidential inaugurations in Kabul on Monday, underscoring the country's
woeful security ahead of talks with a resurgent Taliban. Hundreds of people had assembled at two venues inside the presidential palace complex to watch the swearing-in ceremonies for
President Ashraf Ghani and challenger Abdullah Abdullah, when the blasts were heard, prompting some to flee. "I have no bulletproof vest on, only my shirt, I will stay even if I have to
sacrifice my head," Ghani told the remaining crowd, as sirens sounded overhead. _(This is a developing story. It will be updated with more details.)_ _(Published in an arrangement with
PTI.)_ Published: 09 Mar 2020, 6:16 PM IST