At least three personnel of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) were killed and another 10 civilians wounded in a bomb blast that targeted a patrol party in Paktia province of Afghanistan, TOLOnews reported. 

The incident happened in Gardez city, the provincial capital of Paktia, on Thursday when a car bomb exploded near an Afghan Security Forces’ patrol, said Abdul Rahman Mangal, the spokesperson for the Paktia governor. 

He also added the area suffered heavy losses, including damage to the local market’s shops. No group has yet taken the responsibility for the attack. 

Since the US-Taliban deal, signed on 29 February this year, the foreign forces have almost stopped their combat missions in Afghanistan. On the other hand, the Taliban has increased its presence and checkpoints on highways around the country.  

One such strategically important highway -the Jalalabad -Kabul highway- has recently seen an increased presence of Taliban fighters and checkposts, TOLOnews reported. 

The insurgent group has also mounted several attacks on the vehicles that carry government employees en route. The interior ministry, however, assured that the highways would be cleared off of the Taliban in few weeks.