KABUL, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Taliban rockets killed eight Afghan civilians in the eastern Kunar province, deputy provincial police chief Abdul Sabour Allayar said Sunday.

    Taliban militants fired 12 rockets on Saturday afternoon and hit a mosque and some civilian houses in Chawki district, Allayar told Xinhua, adding eight civilians including four children were killed and five others injured.

    Late Saturday, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said the Taliban rocket attack in Chawki at least killed three Afghan civilians and injured seven others.

    Taliban militants fired rockets toward an ISAF patrol base at around 4 p.m. (1130 GMT), while some rockets fell short and strucka village, it added.

    About 37,000 ISAF and 13,000 U.S.-led coalition troops are operating in this country to hunt down militants and keep security.

    Taliban militants and international forces have frequently caused civilian casualties in their operations, arousing dismay and fury among the Afghan people.

    Due to rising Taliban insurgency, over 2,500 persons have been killed in Afghanistan this year.