MAIMANA, Afghanistan, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- A deadly landmine explosion has killed six four Afghan women and two children in restive northern province of Faryab, authorities said Saturday.
"The victims were passing a dusty side road before one of them step on a pressure-plate improvised explosive device (IED), setting off an explosion in Ganji locality of Shirin Tagab district," Abdul Hadi Jamal, a press officer of army's Division 20 Pamir based in region, told Xinhua.
The blast which occurred roughly at midday on Friday also injured one woman, the source said, adding next-of-kin of the victims were notified after the incident.
He blamed enemies of peace, referring to the Taliban militant group, for planting the IED.
Taliban militants have been using IEDs to make roadside bombs and landmines targeting security forces, but the lethal home-made weapons also inflict casualties on civilians.
More than 2,790 civilians were killed and over 5,250 others injured in conflict-related incidents in the first nine months of year in the war-torn country, according to figures released by United Nations mission in the country.
