Bomb kills 78 in Afghanistan in 24 hours

An attack in Afghanistan Wednesday took the toll of just over 24 hours of carnage with 78 dead as officials blamed Pakistan for the worst attack, accusing them of trying to stir up sectarian violence in Iraq style.

Nineteen civilians, including seven women and five children, were killed by a roadside bomb in Helmand province troubled southern Afghanistan on Wednesday, highlighting the continuing instability after 10 years of war. It came as the funeral was held for 59 people killed in unprecedented attacks against Shiite Muslims in Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif, one day earlier, Afghan officials blamed on Pakistani militants.

They accused the militants of trying to further destabilize Afghanistan with sectarian violence in a country already ravaged by a decade of conflict between the government and foreign troops and the Taliban-led insurgents.

Provide details of the attack in Helmand province, provincial security force commander Mohammad Ismail said 19 people, including seven women and five children were killed. The women were all from the same family. AFP