“This is a criminal act. Nothing can justify an attack on hospitals,” Afghan Chief Executive 

“We will never forgive these criminals. Unfortunately, this attack has resulted in some casualties.”

Islamic State jihadists claimed the attack via a verified Telegram account.

The Taliban said they could neither confirm nor deny that they were behind the attack. The militant group, Afghanistan's largest, is known to distance itself from attacks on medical facilities or those that result in high civilian casualties.

The assault comes just a week after 16 people were killed in simultaneous Taliban suicide assaults on two security compounds in Kabul.

Dozens of others were wounded as a suicide car bomber struck an Afghan police precinct in western Kabul and a five-hour gun battle ensued after another attacker snuck in.

In the second attack, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the gates of an Afghan intelligence agency branch in eastern Kabul.

The growing violence underscores rising insecurity in Afghanistan over the resurgent Taliban.