Afghan security guards inspect the remains of a bus after a suicide attack by the Taliban claimed the lives of six soldiers in Kabul. Photo: AP

Kabul: The Taliban have unleashed a wave of violence across Afghanistan, killing six Afghan soldiers aboard a Kabul bus, two American soldiers near the Bagram airbase north of Kabul, assassinating a Supreme Court official and shooting dead 12 men working to clear land mines in Helmand province.

The attacks are a departure from past years when violence has typically slowed during the cold months. Recent attacks have also heightened feelings of fear and uncertainty permeating the capital, as the new administration of President Ashraf Ghani struggles to appoint a cabinet.

Fatalities and injuries among Afghan security forces and civilians have peaked this year to the highest point since the US-led war began in 2001, as foreign forces rapidly withdrew most of their troops from the interior of the mountainous nation.

An Afghan soldier at the scene of the suicide attack, the second targeting Afghan forces in the capital in the last week. Photo: AP

Six soldiers on the bus were killed and 10 were wounded by a suicide bomber. Details about civilian casualties were not immediately available. It was the second targeted attack against Afghan soldiers in Kabul within a week.   

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Saturday's violence began with the assassination of the secretariat of the Supreme Court, Atiqullah Raoufi, as he rode to work from his home in Kabul's north-western suburbs. Mr Raoufi was shot by two assailants on a motorbike and died on the way to the hospital, the police said.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for both Kabul attacks, as well as the bombing that claimed the lives of the two US soldiers. The insurgents also said their attacks would not be restricted to military and governmental targets.

"Efforts have been made to identify media outlets who are motivating people toward vulgarity to make them pay and face its consequences," said Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid. "The Taliban will continue its attacks targeting foreign invaders and their Afghan slaves."

Uncertainty has enveloped Afghanistan's government as Dr Ghani struggles to select his cabinet. Disagreements over appointments with Abdullah Abdullah - who occupies the freshly-minted post of chief executive in a US-brokered deal to end a standoff over disputed election results - have left the top posts at various ministries empty.

Much interest is focused on the defence and interior ministries, which are responsible for the army and the police.

Afghan forces have suffered a record number of casualties this year, and the Taliban have made advances beyond their usual rural strongholds, challenging district centres and establishing front lines in areas where they once relied strictly on guerrilla tactics.

New York Times, Reuters