KABUL, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Four Afghan soldiers were killed as a mine struck their van in the eastern Kunar province, the local Hindokosh news agency reported Thursday.

    The incident occurred on Wednesday, the agency quoted Abdul Jalal Jalal, police chief of Kunar, as saying.

    The report did not give any other details including the exact place of the incident.

    Meantime, a purported Taliban spokesman Mohammad Hanif accepted responsibility, saying Taliban militants had inflicted casualties on Afghan forces by the explosion.

    Another report from Kunar says that Afghan and coalition forces arrested three terrorists with explosive device in Sarkano district.

    On Thursday, an Afghan commander Rahmatullah Raufi told Xinhua that two Afghan soldiers were injured as a roadside bomb struck their vehicle in Sori district in the restive southern Zabul province

    Both soldiers are in stable condition while their vehicle was destroyed, he added.

    Kunar and Zabul have been hotbeds of Taliban and other anti-government militants, who attack Afghan and foreign troops frequently.

    Due to their backwardness in equipment and military tactics, militants often plant mines or roadside bombs against government and foreign targets.

    Afghanistan is suffering from a rise of Taliban-linked violence this year, during which more than 2,300 people have been killed. Enditem