Eight Afghan policemen were injured by a roadside bomb blast in northern Samangan province on Monday evening, local officials said.
The incident took place in the Hazrat Sultan district of the province when a police convoy struck a hidden Improvised Explosive Device (IED), Samangan Police Chief Mohammad Akram Begzad said. The police were said to be carrying out duties related to election security when the blast occurred.
Although none of the police officers were killed by the blast, some of them were said to be in critical condition. All of those who injured were taken to a nearby hospital.
With only a few days left until Afghans head to the polls to elect their new president on Saturday, security forces are on high alert, stepping up precautionary measures across the country.
According to the Ministry of Interior Affairs (MoIA), Afghan security personnel have opened up hundreds of new checkpoints and increased searches around the country.
Additionally, the Afghan National Army (ANA) has launched proactive operations in a number of provinces to eliminate major insurgent threats that could disrupt the voting process.
Militant leaders have publicly announced their intention to derail the elections and scare voters from going to the polls by escalating violence.