KABUL, Afghanistan

A roadside blast in a Taliban-controlled area in Afghanistan on Saturday claimed the lives of at least six schoolchildren, an official confirmed.

The incident took place in Darqad district of the northern Takhar province bordering Tajikistan.

Police spokesman Khalilullah Aseer told Anadolu Agency the Taliban had planted an improvised explosive device on a main road aimed at the security forces that eventually claimed the lives of six schoolchildren besides injuring three others.

The area is said to be under the Taliban control. However, the insurgents have not commented on the incident.

According to the country’s own Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, the past six months were the deadliest months for civilians in Afghanistan with 6,487 civilians, including women and children (1,611 killed and 4876 injured) during the armed conflict in the country.