The Emergency Hospital, a surgical center for war-wounded people run by an Italian NGO, said it had received more than 40 patients after the blast.
The United Nations and several countries including Pakistan and the United Kingdom condemned the attack.
“The UK rejects such senseless and indiscriminate acts of violence,” said Hugo Shorter, charge d’affaires of the UK mission in Afghanistan.
A photo from the area confirmed by official sources showed at least nine dead or wounded lying outside the ministry.
Zadran said the blast occurred at around 4 pm (11:30 pm IST).