Taliban deny attacking Red Cross office in eastern Afghanistan

The Taliban said in a statement on Friday that they were not involved in the fatal attack on the humanitarian organization in the country's volatile east.
 
The denial comes a day after ICRC announced suspension of its operations in the troubled region.
 
“As a consequence of the attack… all our activities have been frozen and our office in Jalalabad is closed.” the organization said in a statement issued on Thursday.
 
At least one security guard was killed and several others, including a foreign national, were injured after an explosion took place at the ICRC gate in the city on Wednesday.
 
Following the explosion, unknown gunmen stormed the compound and a gun-battle broke out between Afghan security forces and the assailants.
 
No person or group had claimed responsibility for the attacks. However, Taliban militants are usually blamed for similar attacks.
 
The Taliban recently announced the start of their annual "spring offensive" across Afghanistan and vowed to increase their attacks on US-led troops stationed in the country as well as Afghan forces.
 
The US-led war in Afghanistan, which has caused record-high civilian and military casualties, has become the longest military conflict in the American history.