KABUL (Reuters) — Two explosions rocked the Afghan capital late Friday, while a gun attack at a picnic spot in western Herat province killed at least seven civilians and wounded 13 others, according to officials and local media, underscoring persistent security gaps across the country.
The Kabul blasts occurred around 9:50 p.m. local time, with one explosion heard near Abdul Haq Square, an area housing multiple government offices, according to reports citing Afghan authorities. 
Mobile phone services were disrupted in parts of the city and passing vehicles were subjected to searches. Social media users reported hearing explosions and seeing drones overhead. 
Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed “an explosion was heard in Kabul” and said the matter was under investigation, adding that there were no immediate reports of casualties or property damage.
Separately, Abdul Matin Qani, a spokesman for the Afghan Interior Ministry, said unidentified armed men on motorcycles opened fire on civilians gathered at a picnic site near a village in the Anjil district of Herat province on Saturday evening. 
At least seven people were killed and 13 wounded, with some of the injured in critical condition. Local media in Herat reported the casualty toll could rise further. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
The violence comes amid a broader pattern of armed activity across Afghanistan. Armed groups claimed responsibility for a series of attacks against Taliban forces over the past week, reporting at least 30 Taliban personnel killed, 13 wounded and a military helicopter destroyed in operations spanning Panjshir, Badakhshan, Nuristan, Kapisa, Kandahar, Helmand and Bamiyan provinces. 
The reported attacks, which could not be independently verified, indicate sustained activity by multiple militant factions.
Meanwhile, the Taliban spokesperson said 678 migrants returned to Afghanistan on Saturday through border crossings with Pakistan, Iran and Tajikistan, adding to a growing flow of returnees from neighboring countries.