At least 24 people were killed and 31 injured in one of the explosions, which happened near an election meeting with President Ashraf Ghani in the city of Charikan in Parwan province north of Kabul.

- Women and children are among them and most of the victims appear to be civil. Ambulance personnel are still working, and the number of dead can rise, says hospital director Abdul Qasim Sangin.

The president is unharmed, according to information from his staff.

suicide bombers

The attack was carried out by a suicide bomber, local authorities say.

The perpetrator arrived on a motorcycle and triggered the explosive charge at a control station at the entrance to the meeting, according to Interior Ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi.

At the same time, reports of an explosion in the central parts of the capital Kabul. At least three people have been killed, according to police.

The Taliban movement has taken on the killing, which they say has killed dozens of people. According to the group's spokesperson, the suicide attacks were directed at Afghan security forces.

Hard security

The Taliban have threatened to intensify fighting with Afghan and foreign forces to influence people to refrain from voting in the September 28 elections, where Ghani wants to be re-elected for a second five-year term.

Security at the elections has been tough following pledges by the Taliban about attacks on elections and polling stations.

Last week, it was clear that talks between the United States and the Taliban will not continue. The talks aimed to reach an agreement on the withdrawal of US troops against a declaration by the Taliban not to allow terrorist organizations to take root in Afghanistan.