At Least 66 Hurt in Eastern Afghanistan Blasts

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Latest on attacks in Afghanistan (all times local):

2:55 p.m.

An Afghan official says at least 66 people have been wounded in a series of explosions in the eastern province of Nangarhar as the country marks Independence Day.

Noor Ahmad Habibi, deputy spokesman for the provincial governor, says at least 10 explosions occurred around the provincial capital, Jalalabad. He says most of the people have minor injuries and have been released after treatment at local hospitals.

No one has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Both the Taliban and the local affiliate of the Islamic State group are active in Nangarhar province.

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10 a.m.

Afghanistan's president is vowing to eliminate all safe havens of the Islamic State group as the country marks a subdued 100th Independence Day after a horrific wedding attack claimed by the local IS affiliate.

President Ashraf Ghani's comments Monday come as Afghanistan mourns at least 63 people killed in the Kabul bombing.

Many outraged Afghans ask whether an approaching deal between the United States and the Taliban to end nearly 18 years of fighting will bring peace to long-suffering civilians.

A sharply worded Taliban statement questions why the U.S. failed to identify the attackers in advance. Another Taliban statement marking independence says to "leave Afghanistan to the Afghans."

The U.S. envoy in talks with the Taliban says the peace process should be accelerated to help Afghanistan defeat the IS affiliate.