Kabul:
Several large explosions hit the centre of Kabul on Friday, with Afghan police and the NATO-led international coalition unable to confirm the cause.
The explosion occurred near the Indian embassy and was felt several kilometers away. But the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that the embassy was not the target and all the Indians present in the premises are safe.
Police quickly cordoned off the area, which also houses buildings used by international aid agencies.
There were at least four blasts followed by heavy shooting, a witness said.
Gunfire erupted as security forces rushed to the scene of the blasts, which occurred at about 4:00 pm (1130 GMT) on Friday, the first day of the Afghan weekend.
"A number of attackers have taken positions in one building. We are not sure what the target is but there is the APPF (Afghan Public Protection Force) office and and some UN organisations in the area," police spokesman Hashmat Stanizkzai said.
According the Reuters, a Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Jawed Kazem, a local shopkeeper, said: "I was sitting in my shop when the explosion happened. It was a big explosion which threw me off my chair, minutes later another explosion happened.
A witness said two policemen were injured in the explosions, though there was no official word on casualties.