Taliban attack NATO convoy in Afghanistan

Kabul, Aug 2 (IANS) A suicide bomber on Wednesday attacked a NATO convoy in Afghanistan's southern province of Kandahar, officials said.

The attack, claimed by the Taliban, took place at 12.20 p.m. in the provincial capital also called Kandahar, Efe news reported.

"The suicide car bombing took place when a foreign forces' convoy was passing through the area," a spokesperson said, adding the attack occurred on a road leading to an important US base.

A NATO official confirmed the attack and said there were casualties.

Afghan security forces cordoned off the area and were trying to ascertain the number of casualties, the report said.

Taliban spokesperson Qari Yusuf Ahmadi claimed the attack.

The current NATO mission in Afghanistan has deployed around 13,000 troops who provide assistance to Afghan troops while the US maintains some 8,400 troops in the country.

Since the NATO combat mission ended in January 2015, the insurgents have been gaining ground in various parts of Afghanistan and now control, influence or are fighting the government in 43 per cent of the country, according to US officials.

(This story has not been edited by Social News XYZ staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)