Landmine kills 10 civilians in eastern Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan

A landmine blast in Afghanistan's eastern Khost province on Tuesday killed at least 10 civilians, an official confirmed.

The provincial administration said in a statement that the incident took place in the vicinity of Chinaar on the outskirts of the Alisher district at around 06:00 a.m. local time (0130GMT) when a passenger car hit the landmine.

Aadil Haider, police spokesman, told Anadolu Agency that two women and three children are among the victims.

Another improvised explosive device near the site of the first blast was found by security forces and defused, he added.

Haleem Fidaey, provincial governor, called the attack an “inhumane act of terrorism.”

There has been no immediate claim of responsibility, but officials normally blame Taliban insurgents for planting IEDs on highways.

Last month, at least 15 civilians were killed in the northern Kunduz province bordering Tajikistan in a similar landmine blast allegedly planted by the Taliban.

The blasts come amid initiatives to reinvigorate the fragile Afghan peace talks as the war enters its 19th year with no immediate signs of respite.

According to the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, the last six months were the deadliest months for civilians in Afghanistan since 2001, with 6,487 civilians killed and injured (1,611 killed and 4,876 injured) during the armed conflict in the country.