An Afghan security official was killed in a mine blast in Paktia province, local officials confirmed.

Sharif Kaliwal, district governor of Sayid Karam in Paktia, told Ariana News that Homayoun Himat police commander for Sayid Karam was killed in a mine blast on Tuesday.

Himat’s vehicle hit a roadside mine in the district while he was on his way to supply a police outpost that came under attack by the Taliban.

According to Kaliwal, three policemen were also killed and four others wounded in the blast.

The official said that the Afghan forces have also imposed casualties to the Taliban militants but he did not provide further details. The Taliban yet to comment in this regard.

No group or individual including the Taliban militant group has claimed responsibility for the explosion.

Paktia is among the insecure provinces in the east part of the country where the Taliban insurgents are actively operating in a number of its districts.

This year, more than 789,000 tons of watermelon will be harvested in Farah province.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock said that the figure is up 6 percent compared to that of last year.

Officials at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock say that this year’s watermelon harvest in Farah province will be 789,400 metric tons. According to the officials, about 19,000 hectares of land have been cultivated  for watermelon in Farah province this year.

Meanwhile, a number of farmers in Farah province are worried about the lack of markets for the watermelon products.

They say that if there is no market, their products will be wasted.

This comes as a number of farmers in the province say that if the government doesn’t support the marketing of watermelon products in this province, their products will be destroyed this year.

Officials in the Chamber of Commerce and Investment have criticized the government, saying that the Ministry of Commerce should have previously marketed domestic products.

According to them, the government’s negligence will discourage farmers from producing crops.

They say South Asian countries are the best market for watermelon, but claim that Pakistan has blocked the export of the product to a number of countries.

At least two people – including Mohammad Ayaz Niazi, imam of Wazir Akbar Khan mosque – were killed and three others wounded in a bomb blast inside a mosque in Kabul city, the Interior Ministry confirmed.

Tariq Arian, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry said that the explosion took place at around 7:25 p.m. in Wazir Akbar Khan mosque while people were gathered for evening prayers.

Mohammad Ayaz Niazi, imam of the mosque also lost his life in the attack, the official added.

All the injured individuals have been taken to hospital.

According to the ministry, police defused another bomb at the attack scene.

Meanwhile, the Presidential Palace condemned the “terror attack,” saying attacks on mosques, hospitals, and other civilian sites are anti-humanitarian act.

(1/4) په کابل کې پر وزیرمحمداکبرخان جامع جومات د تروریستي برید په اړه مطبوعاتي اعلامیه

— ارگ (@ARG_AFG) June 2, 2020

No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack.