Kabul, Nov 18 (IANS): Seven children were killed and three others injured Monday in a bomb explosion in the eastern Afghan province of Paktika, the provincial government said in a press release.

"Seven children died and three seriously wounded as one improvised explosive device (IED) exploded on a main road in Khair Kot district at around 3 p.m. Monday. The innocent kids were playing when the blast took place," Xinhua cited the press release as stating.

The victims were from the same family, it said, adding that the enemies of peace and stability, namely Taliban insurgents, were to blame for planting the IED.

The Taliban frequently attacks Afghan and NATO-led forces with IEDs but the lethal weapons also inflict casualties on civilians.

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has said that more than 1,300 civilians were killed and over 2,500 injured from January to June this year.

Out of the total casualties, there were 231 children killed and 529 wounded with IED explosions being the leading cause of the fatalities.