Blast at Shia mosque in Kabul's Dasht-e-Barchi area

A powerful explosion took place inside a Shia mosque in west Kabul's Dasht-e-Barchi area in Afghanistan on Thursday.

An explosion that rocked the Dasht-e-Barchi Alzahra mosque was followed by gunshots

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The explosion occurred at a time when people around the country were preparing to observe the Lailatul-Qadr (night of power) which is held on 19th, 21st and 23rd day of Ramadan and mosques on this occasion are very crowded. Therefore, there are fears of more casualties.

On Wednesday U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said he will need even more money to boost American troop levels in Afghanistan.

The situation on the ground has deteriorated despite the April 13 dropping of the 11-ton GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast on a suspected Islamic State tunnel complex in the Achin district of eastern Nangarhar province.