Explosions rock Kabul as Taliban launch coordinated attacks

Twin bombings and raids shook the Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday, as the Taliban launched a wave of attacks on hard-stretched security forces in the country.

A huge exposion was reported in west Kabul on Wednesday monring, when a car bomb was detonated outside a police station.

It was followed by the sound of gunfire as Taliban attackers launched simultanious raids on security installations. There are reports of clashes continuing between Afghan troops and the militants. 

Two suicide bombers were reported to have attacked the police station after the first car bomb with a battle breaking out between the Taliban and officers, according to Al-Jazeera.

A second explosion targeted the Afghan intelligence agency in a different part of the city when a Taliban militant wearing a bomb vest attempted to enter the building.

"The bomber tried to enter an NDS (National Directorate of Security) office in the southeastern part of the city. The attacker died and two others were wounded," Najibullah Danish, interior minister spokesperson told AFP.

At least three people were killed and 38 wounded in the violence.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attacks, and follows another bloody day for Afghan security forces after an undercover militant killed 12 police officers on Tuesday.

Afghan security forces have lost control of several major cities and towns to the Taliban in the past few months.

Most of these areas have been recovered by the Afghan army, but not without international air support and sustaining heavy losses. 

Meanwhile, one study has shown that the Afghan government controls just 60 percent of the country, according to Reuters.

Kabul is also facing mass desertions from its armed forces, while the Afghan population's faith in the central government in providing security is being seriously stretched.

Spring usually sees an increase in Taliban attacks in Kabul, as the winter snow in surrounding mountains melts away.