Kabul, Nov 27 (IANS): A roadside bomb Wednesday claimed six lives in Pashtunkot district of Afghanistan, an official said.

The Pashtunkot district of Faryab province is situated 425 km northwest of Kabul.

"A vehicle of the employees of an aid agency was going to Pashtunkot district from the capital city Maimana Wednesday morning when a mine planted by Taliban rebels struck the vehicle, killing six aboard," the official told Xinhua.

Faryab's provincial police chief, Nabi Jan Mullah Khil, confirmed the incident but said the victims were shot dead by armed militants.

The victims had worked for a non-governmental organisation named Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED) and were engaged in humanitarian work in the province, he said.

"The employees of ACTED were going from Maimana city to Pashtunkot district but unfortunately a group of armed militants intercepted their vehicle and shot them dead," Mullah Khil said.

The incident took place in the morning and all the six victims were Afghans, he added.