The suicide bomb blast early on Wednesday killed at least 80 people and wounded hundreds near Zanbaq square in Kabul's 10th district, close to shops and restaurants, as well as government offices and foreign embassies.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban, told Al Jazeera that the group was not involved in the attack.

Afghan President, Ashraf Ghani,  strongly condemned the attack, which came just days into the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

A statement from his office quoted Ghani as saying that "the terrorists, even in the holy month of Ramadan, the month of goodness, blessing and prayer, are not stopping the killing of our innocent people".

Several foreign embassies were in the vicinity of the attack, which occurred in an area filled with diplomats.

Residences and offices of Pakistani, Indian, French, and German diplomats, among those of other countries, were damaged.

Pakistan condemned the "terrorist attack in Kabul this morning that has caused the loss of precious human lives and injuries to many".

The victims appear mainly to have been Afghan civilians, but German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel did say that employees of the German Embassy were wounded in the attack, and that one Afghan security guard was killed.

"Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims. We wish those injured a quick recovery," the foreign minister said. "It's particularly despicable that these people were targeted."

He also vowed that the attack would not shake Germany's determination to "support the Afghan regime with the stabilisation of their country".

Mohammed bin Jassim Al-Thani,  Qatar's foreign minister,  condemned the "appalling attack".

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi  tweeted "thoughts & prayers" to those affected by the attack.

News24