Kabul , Afghanistan ( CNN ) -- A top coalition general wounded in a suicide attack Saturday in northern Afghanistan -- one that left seven dead and eight others hurt -- said weeks earlier that he 'd charged international troops to `` show Afghans ... respect , '' in part to contrast with brazen actions by the likes of the Taliban . The attack in Taloqan occurred at a high-level meeting of Afghan and coalition officials in a governor 's office , a provincial spokesman said . A Taliban spokesman said that the group , whose fight to resume control in Afghanistan has picked up in recent months , was responsible . Maj. Gen. Markus Kneip , a veteran German office and the regional head of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force across nine provinces of northern Afghanistan , is in stable condition after suffering non-life threatening injuries , a German general said . The provinces border Turkmenistan east to China . A soldier since 1975 , Kneip is also senior commander of all German troops in Afghanistan and Uzbekistan , according to a biography on the military alliance 's website . He returned in February to the position , which he also held in 2006 , leading more than 12,000 coalition troops from 16 countries . In an April press briefing coordinated by the U.S. Department of Defense , Kneip said he 'd noticed a `` huge difference '' in the coalition commitment to the region compared to five years earlier , saying `` we are doubling and tripling our efforts . '' He also spoke of the `` huge burden '' placed on coalition troops `` to be careful with their actions '' in order to win over Afghans . `` We ask them to follow these rules ( to ) distinguish our actions from the Taliban , who take advantage of children , who take advantage of children , and put ( suicide attackers ) in , which is a cruel doing , '' Kneip said , according to a transcript of his answers on the U.S. Department of Defense website . The attack came at a meeting , held in the governor 's office in Taloqan , `` to talk about security in this region , especially after the demonstrations in recent days , '' German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere told reporters . He was referring to a May 18 incident in which German soldiers shot in front of their camp a number of demonstrators -- angry about NATO airstrike that killed four insurgents , including two armed females -- who they allege had become violent . Provincial government spokesman Faiz Mohammad Tawhidi blamed protesters whom he said threw grenades and `` opened fire on protesters and security forces . '' Two German soldiers and four Afghan guards were injured during the clashes , according to the German military . `` New trust was to be initiated , '' de Maiziere said of Saturday 's meeting . The meeting attendees included high-ranking authorities from the Afghan National Police , the Afghan National Army and ISAF members , said an interior ministry spokesman , Zemaray Bashari . In a telephone interview , Taliban spokesman Zabulliah Mojahed said , `` Our sacrificed mujahedeen targeted the high-ranking Afghan authorities together with the international forces who were attending a security meeting as advisers and they were planning to launch an operation against the Taliban in the north in this meeting . '' `` After our mujahedeen found ( out ) about this meeting , then it was targeted by our suicide bomber , '' he told CNN from an unknown location . Two Germans were killed , as was thepolice chief of Takhar province , Shah Jahan Noori ; and the regional police chief , Gen. Dawood Dawood , said Faiz Mohammad Tawhidi , a spokesman for provincial Gov . Abdul Jabar Taqwa . Dawood Dawood was a veteran anti-Soviet and anti-Taliban resistance commander . His roles since the Taliban 's ouster include being one of Afghanistan 's lead point-persons in trying to stifle the production of opium poppies -- from which the drug heroin is made . The governor 's secretary and two guards were also killed , said Qari Sadiqullah , secretary of the provincial council . Most of the wounded suffered burns , he said . Taqwa himself was wounded , his spokesman said.So , too , were three German soldiers , according to de Maiziere . The German general told reporters that Kneip and other commanders had participated Saturday morning in a memorial ceremony for a German soldier who had died Wednesday near Kunduz . ISAF spokesman Rear Adm. Vic Beck condemned what he called `` the senseless murder of these Afghans and coalition members who have fought so hard for the people of Afghanistan . `` ISAF will remain relentless in our support to our Afghan partners to find those responsible and bring them to justice , '' he said . The attack came two days after eight U.S. troops died when two improvised explosive devices blew up in Shorabak District , about 100 kilometers ( 62 miles ) south of Kandahar , according to ISAF . That region -- on the opposite end from where Saturday 's attack occurred -- has been the site of a spate of recent violence , after Taliban forces unleashed multiple attacks earlier this month in their so-called spring offensive . CNN 's Larry Shaughnessy contributed to this story .
NEW : High-ranking coalition officer had urged troops to `` show German ... respect '' NEW : Maj. Gen. Qari Sadiqullah is head of more than 12,000 coalition troops in northern Uzbekistan . He was wounded with more than 12,000 others , while 7 -- Afghan officials and Afghans troops -- died . A provincial governor is also wounded in the attack , which occurred in his building .