A roadside bombing killed at least six Afghan civilians traveling in a rickshaw in a northern province, an official said Wednesday. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. According to the interior ministry spokesman, Tariq Arian, the bombing in Jawzjan province took place the previous evening when the rickshaw struck the roadside bomb in Mardyan district. One civilian was also wounded in the explosion. Arian blamed Taliban insurgents for the attack. Afghanistan has seen a recent spike in violence, with most attacks claimed by the local affiliate of Daesh (the so-called IS) group. In early June, Daesh claimed responsibility for a bombing at a mosque in Kabul that killed two people, including the prayer leader. Eight worshipers were wounded in that attack. A week later, another prayer leader and three worshipers were killed in a bomb blast inside another mosque in Kabul. Eight other worshippers were wounded. The Taliban condemned the mosque attacks. Meanwhile, the Afghan forces killed or wounded at least 9 Taliban militants during separate clashes in the northeastern Kapisa province. The 201st Silab Corps in a statement said the Taliban militants clashed with the security forces in 7 areas of Shalitoo area of Tagab district in the past 24 hours. The statement further added that the Taliban militants attacked the security forces during clearance operations which the security forces launched in response to repeated attacks of the militants on public uprising forces. — Agencies
