The New Zealand Embassy was hit when Taliban insurgents on Sunday launched violent attacks on several sites in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Insurgents fired grenades and automatic weapons in a series of attacks in Kabul, Afghanistan's capital, and it has been described by Reuters as one of the most serious attacks in six months.

Two rockets hit a guard tower at the British embassy compound, which also houses New Zealand's embassy. The compound remained locked down Monday afternoon.

Prime Minister John Key spoke to the media from his diplomatic trip in Indonesia and said there are two New Zealanders attached to the embassy and they were safe.

Meanwhile, New Zealand Herald spoke to a spokesman for the New Zealand Defence Force, and it has been confirmed that Afghanistan-based personnel were all safe after the attacks.

The deadly attacks started at 1:15 in the afternoon in local time, 8:45 in the evening in New Zealand.

Seventeen insurgents including suicide bombers were killed in the attacks, the Herald reported.

Other diplomatic offices were also hit by the attacks, along with Nato bases and Parliament.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying the violence was a response to the burnings of copies of the Koran at a United States base in February, as well as last month's killing of 17 villagers by a US sergeant, the Herald reported.