At least eight people, mostly civilians were killed on Monday in a suicide attack targeting an Afghan provincial governor. Rahmatullah Yarmal, Governor of eastern Laghman province was on his way to his office when the attacker rammed his explosives-filled vehicle into the convoy, AFP reported.

Four of his bodyguards and four civilians were killed. 28 were wounded. The Governor, however, remained unhurt, his spokesman Assadullah Daulatzai told AFP.

Interior ministry spokesman Tareq Arian confirmed the attack and said most of the wounded were civilians.

Although no one has claimed responsibility for the attack, Taliban is active in the region. 

The attack was carried out when President Ashraf Ghani headed for Qatar on Monday where peace talks with the Taliban have stalled. He’ll meet Qatari officials three weeks after the launch of landmark peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

Also read: Afghanistan talks: Bitter foes with incompatible goals

Ghani will first stop in Kuwait to offer condolences over the death of emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, his spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said.

Talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government negotiators, aimed at ending Afghanistan’s 19-year conflict, have stalled over disagreements on how to frame a code of conduct that will guide the broader talks.

The Taliban, who are Sunni hardliners, are insisting on adherence to the Hanafi school of Sunni Islamic jurisprudence, but the government negotiators say this could be used to discriminate against Hazaras, who are predominantly Shia, and other minorities in the country.

Another contentious topic is how the US-Taliban deal will shape a future peace deal and how it will be referred to.

On Saturday, a suicide bomber detonated a vehicle full of explosives at the entrance an administrative building in eastern Nangarhar province, killing 15 people, mostly civilians, officials said.