Afghan policemen are seen at the site of an explosion in Kandahar, south of Kabul, December 6, 2011. — Photo by AP

KANDAHAR: Twelve people were killed Wednesday when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province, a provincial government spokesman said.

“Twelve civilians, among them women and children, were killed today when their van hit in a roadside bomb,” said Daud Ahmadi.

He added that the civilians were travelling from provincial capital Lashkar Gah to Sangin district when the blast took place.

The deaths came the day after 59 people died in two blasts at Shia shrines, 55 of them in Kabul.

Roadside bombs are frequently planted by Taliban-led insurgents fighting a decade-long war against Nato-led foreign troops and Afghan government forces.

There are around 140,000 international troops, mainly from the United States, in Afghanistan helping government forces combat the insurgency.

According to the UN, the number of civilians killed in violence in Afghanistan rose by 15 per cent in the first six months of this year to 1,462, with insurgents blamed for 80 per cent of the killings.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.