Roadside bombings and skirmishes in southern Afghan province of Zabul have claimed the lives of 22 people on a single day Monday, officials said.
"One tractor of nomads was struck by roadside mines planted by militants at around 8 a.m. local time (0330 GMT) in Shamanzi district of Zabul, leaving 12 dead including four women and two children," Mohammad Wazir, the district chief told Xinhua.
He said in another incident, two Taliban militants were killed when they were attempting to plant mines which blew off prematurely in the same district,
Moreover, Ghulam Jailani, the provincial police chief said a group of Taliban militants Monday morning attacked a local construction company who were busy with repairing a bridge in Qalat district, capital of Zabul.
"Six Afghan security guards and two civilians were killed during the fighting," he added.
Conflicts and violence left 5,000 people dead in 2008 while Taliban insurgents have recently vowed to launch the Spring Offensive to intensify their activities, mostly in the shape of roadside bombing and suicide attacks, against the interests of government and international troops.