Suicide car bombing

The attack Saturday struck near the private Shinozada hospital in the capital's Macrorayan neighbourhood. The powerful blast echoed across the city.

Wahidullah Mayar, a Health Ministry spokesman, said at least three Afghan civilians were killed in the attack and 18 others were wounded

Najib Danish, a deputy Interior Ministry spokesman, said the attack destroyed more than a dozen of civilian vehicles.

In a televised address, Ashraf Ghani also blamed neighboring Pakistan for what he described as Islamabad's support to the insurgents whose war against Kabul is now nearing its 14th year, and said he was sending a delegation to Islamabad later this week to demand a stop to this.

"We know they have sanctuaries there, we know they are active there," Ghani said, referring to Taliban leaders living in Pakistan. "We need all those activities to be stopped."

The officials say the victims, mostly civilians, were gathered in celebration of the holiday Friday marking the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. 

The officials say at least 40 people were also wounded in the attack in the town of Khan Beni Saad. Hospital officials confirmed the tolls. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the press.

The bombing hit a checkpoint manned by members of the Khost Provincial Force, an Afghan unit that guards Camp Chapman for the American forces there, said Youqib Khan, the deputy police chief in Khost province.

It wasn't immediately clear whether the bomber was trying to get onto the base or what led up to his attack, Khan said.