Two policemen and a civilian killed in Afghan mine blast when it was heading for their workplaces on Thursday, a day after eight soldiers were killed in NATO's 10-year war against the Taliban.The policemen and civilians were killed after their vehicle hit a mine explosion that is controlled from a distance when their work is heading in the civilian airport that serves the city of Herat, western Afghanistan, officials said.
The blast also wounded 10 people - four women police officers, a police man and five civilians, said Mohammad Rafiq Shaheer, a spokesman for Herat hospital.
Wednesday, three foreign soldiers killed in blast explosive devices (IED) in eastern Afghanistan, said the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), and three others were killed in IED attack in the southern region, while two others were killed in separate incidents .
News about the recent deaths broke a day after the UN released data that says violence in Afghanistan increased nearly 40 percent in the first eight months of this year, compared with the same period last year.
However, ISAF refused, saying the UN data, the attacks fell two percent in the first eight months of this year.
Also Wednesday, eight Afghan policemen were killed when Taliban insurgents who apparently assisted by insiders attacked their post in southern Afghanistan, an official said.
Daud Ahmadi, spokesman for Helmand's provincial government, accusing the militant group that did the killing but said they have received support from at least one police officer who conspired in the attack.
Escalating conflict in Afghanistan by the number of civilian and military deaths reached its highest level last year when violence is raging Taliban extends beyond the traditional areas in the south and east to areas west and north of the old stable.
A total of 711 foreign soldiers have been killed in the war in Afghanistan over the past year, making 2010 the deadliest year for foreign forces, according to an AFP tally based on independent website icasualties.org.
The number of civilian deaths also increased, and the Afghan Interior Ministry announced that 2043 civilians were killed in 2010 due to Taliban attacks and military operations aimed at militants.
The Taliban, who ruled Afghanistan since 1996, fomenting rebellion since ousted from power in that country by US-led invasion in 2001 for refusing to hand over al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who is accused of responsibility for attacks on American soil that killed about 3,000 people in 11 September 2001.
About 130,000 personnel International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) which comes from dozens of countries are in Afghanistan to help the Kabul government and its allies fight the Taliban insurgency.
Around 521 foreign soldiers have been killed during 2009, which made that year as a deadly year for international troops since the US-led invasion in 2001 and make the Western public support against the war drops.
Taliban insurgents rely heavily on the use of roadside bombs and suicide attacks against Afghan government and foreign troops stationed in the country.
Homemade bombs known as IEDs (improvised explosive device) resulted in 70-80 percent casualties of foreign troops in Afghanistan, according to the military.
