Afghan presidential candidate Dr Abdullah Abdullah survived a Taliban attack on Wednesday on the Kabul-Jalalabad highway, his campaign said.
The attack occurred on Wednesday about 4:30 pm, when a group of armed men targeted Abdullah's convoy while he was returning to Kabul from an electoral campaign event in Nangarhar province.
"Yesterday after participating in a gathering...Dr Abdullah was on his way from Nangarhar province to Kabul, when he was targeted in the Tangi Abrasham area of Sorobi district," said campaign spokesman Fazal Rahman Oria. "Fortunately no one was hurt and then Abdullah went to Sorobi district and gave a speech."
Oria condemned the attack, and accused the government of neglecting in providing security for the candidates.
"Unfortunately I must say that the government should provide security and arrange forces in the area, which the government didn't," Oria added.
Ministry of Interior Spokesman Sediq Sediqqi told TOLOnews that the attack was on police forces and not Abdullah. Sediqqi added that candidates should cooperate with the ministry and that police forces took control of the area after the attack.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack and said that three of Abdullah's personal guards were killed in the attack.
Previously, unknown gunmen shot dead two of Abdullah's in the western city of Herat, highlighting concerns about security in the run-up to the April vote.
Shujahudeen and Dr Faiz Ahmad Hamdard were shot dead just one day before the official start of the election campaign in early February.
Security has been a top concern for Afghan officials leading into this year's elections, which come as President Hamid Karzai leaves office and the NATO coalition leaves Afghanistan.
A number of presidential candidates have mounted criticisms recently against what they say are insufficient security measures being taken to protect the elections.