The Ministry of Public Health on Wednesday evening confirmed the death toll had risen to 48 in the suicide bombing in a classroom at an education academy in Dasht-e-Barchi in PD18.

The explosion happened at about 4.10pm local time while students were in class. At least 67 people were also wounded.

Government sources said on Wednesday that over 70 security force members have been killed and dozens more wounded in battles on several fronts around the country including Baghlan, Zabul and Kandahar provinces over the past 24 hours.

A police source in Baghlan said that at least 35 Afghan National Army (ANA) officers and ten policemen were killed when the Taliban launched an attack on a military base in Baghlan-e-Markazi district.