Huge explosion heard near US embassy in Kabul

A huge blast, said to be a rocket attack, was heard near the embassy of the United States in the Afghan capital, Kabul, Press TV reports.

According to local officials, the explosion was also heard near bases belonging to the US-led NATO forces early on Wednesday.

Afghan police and NATO forces have confirmed the blast, though no casualties have been reported.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet, but the blame for such incidents is usually placed on the Taliban militant group.

The blast comes amid rising tensions between Kabul and Washington over the controversial Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA), which allows the US troops to stay in war-torn Afghanistan beyond 2014 with immunity from prosecution under Afghan law.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has so far rejected signing the security deal with Washington, saying the matter should be left to the next government after the April elections in Afghanistan.

The security pact with the US has also sparked nationwide anti-American protests in the war-stricken country. There are more than 43,000 US troops in Afghanistan.

The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but after 12 years, the foreign troops have not been able to establish security in the country.