Taliban on Tuesday defended ir suicide bombing against an international compound in Afghan capital that killed at least 16 civilians and wounded 119 people, just hours after a US envoy said he and militant group h reached a deal "in principle" to end America's longest war. Angry Kabul residents whose homes were shredded in explosion climbed over buckled blast wall and set part of compound, a frequent target of militants, on fire. Thick smoke rose from Green Vill, home to several foreign organizations and guesthouses, whose location has become a peril to nearby local residents as well. "People were screaming and saying, 'My children are trapped in rubble,'" one witness, Faiz Ahm, said. A large crater was left in street.

'We are t weak': Taliban

Taliban continue such attacks even as a US envoy says deal with insurgents only needs approval of President Donald Trump to become a reality. accord would include a troop withdrawal that Taliban alrey portray as ir victory. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Associated Press: 

"We understand that peace talks are going on... but y must also understand that we are t weak and if we enter into talks... we enter from a strong position."

He said attack was a response to raids by US and Afghan forces on civilians in or parts of country. While he ackwledged re should be less harm to civilians, he said y shouldn't be living near such an important foreign compound. Interior Ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said some 400 foreigners h been rescued after suicide bomber targeted compound late on Monday. Five or attackers were shot and killed by security forces after suicide bomber detonated a tractor packed with explosives, he said. attack occurred just hours after US envoy briefed Afghan government on an agreement "in principle" with Taliban that would see 5,000 US troops withdraw from five bases in country within 135 days of a final deal. Between 14,000 and 13,000 troops are currently in country.

Green Vill also was hit by a suicide car bomber in January, again as US envoy, Zalmay Khalilz, was visiting capital to brief Afghan government on his negotiations with Taliban on ending nearly 18 years of fighting. Hours before Monday's attack, Khalilz showed a draft deal to Afghan president after declaring that y are "at threshold of an agreement" following end of ninth round of US-Taliban talks in Qatar. agreement still needs President Donald Trump's approval. re was immediate comment from Khalilz after blast that was strongly condemned by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

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Can agreement with Taliban be trusted?

Shaken Kabul residents question wher any agreement with Taliban can be trusted, especially as foreign troops withdraw. Taliban carry out such attacks even as militant group appears to be getting what it wants in a deal with US - a troop withdrawal. group wants all of some 20,000 US and NATO troops out of Afghanistan immediately, while US seeks withdrawal in phases that would depend on Taliban meeting certain conditions such as a reduction in violence. Attacks have surged in recent months, including Taliban assaults on two provincial capitals over weekend, as group seeks to strengn its negotiating position t only with US but with Afghan government in even more challenging intra-Afghan talks that are meant to follow a US-Taliban deal on Afghanistan's future. Taliban have rejected talking with government so far, dismissing it as a US puppet.

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Civilians are suffering: UN

Some analysts also have warned that some factions of Taliban might be expressing displeasure with US deal, though Taliban political leers at talks in Qatar have insisted that ir tens of thousands of fighters would respect whatever agreement is reached. militant group is at its strongest since US-led invasion to topple its government after September 11, 2001 attacks on US. Taliban w control or hold sway over roughly half of Afghanistan.

United Nations and ors say civilians are suffering, often caught in cross-fire as government forces, backed by US, pursue militants with airstrikes and raids. Afghanistan was world's deliest conflict in 2018. Taliban spokesman, Mujahid, said that whenever re is a reduction of violence in Afghan cities, government asserts that militant group is longer able to carry out attacks because of stronger Afghan security forces.

"y should realize that y can't stop Taliban," Mujahid said. "Hopefully y must understand that by w."

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