A bomb exploded on Saturday in west Kabul,  killing more than 30 people. In the explosion taken place near a girls’ school, mostly  young pupils between 11 and 15 years old were killed. Agencies have reported that more than 50 others were wounded.

Agencies say the bombing, apparently aimed to cause maximum civilian carnage, adds to fears that violence in the war-wrecked country could escalate as the US and NATO end nearly 20 years of military engagement.

According to statements of residents in the area, the explosion was deafening. Citing to Naser Rahimi, a local resident, the Associated Press has stated that Rahimi had heard three separate explosions. However,  multiple blasts have not been officially confirmed yet.

The explosion went off, Rahimi says, when the girls were streaming out of the school at around 4.30 pm local time.

While no one has claimed responsibility for the bombing, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani blamed the Taliban for the blast. Ghani said the Taliban, by escalating their illegitimate war and violence, had once again shown 'they are not only reluctant to resolve the current crisis peacefully and fundamentally, but by complicating the situation.'

Authorities were said to be investigating the attack but have yet to confirm any details. 

Earlier to this, a radical Sunni Muslim group, the Afghan Islamic State affiliate, had declared war on Afghanistan’s minority Shia Muslims. 

Meanwhile, the Taliban denied any responsibility for the explosion. Condemning the attack, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told reporters in a message that only the Islamic State group could be responsible for such a heinous crime.

Ross Wilson, the top US diplomat in Kabul, tweeted, 'With scores murdered, this unforgivable attack on children is an assault on Afghanistan’s future, which cannot stand.'

Similarly, the European Union delegation in Afghanistan has also condemned the inhumane act saying, 'despicable act of terrorism.'