Five civilians and an Afghan Local Police (ALP) officer were killed in a clash between the ALP and Taliban insurgents on Wednesday night in western Herat province, officials said.
"The incident took place near a bazar in Shindand District of Herat province at around 5:30pm when Taliban insurgents attacked a Local Police forces convoy," Herat Provincial Council member Toor Mohammad Zarifi told TOLOnews.
Zarifi said that five unarmed civilians at the market, including two men, two women and one child were caught in the crossfire of the gun battle and killed.
In addition to the police officer that died in the clash, another was wounded.
Zarifi said the victims were rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment.
There were no reports of insurgent casualties, and the Taliban has not commented on the incident.
The incident came three days after a bus filled with a group of people heading to a wedding celebration in Ghazni province struck a roadside bomb, killing 18 of the passengers including women and children.
The Ghazni bombing received harsh condemnation from around the country, including statements from President Hamid Karzai, the Ulema Council and the United Nations who all blamed the Taliban for the attack despite the group not claiming responsibility.
The Herat clash on Wednesday happened the same day three ANA soldiers were killed and six others wounded in Sar-e-Pol province when their convoy hit a roadside bomb.
According to a provincial security official, the soldiers were ambushed by insurgents after the blast and a clash ensued that continued for one hour. Reportedly twoTaliban commander was killed and another wounded.
Authorities reported a separate incident in Helmand on Wednesday in which seven insurgents were killed and one other wounded in a clash with the Maiwand 215 ANA Corps.
Dozens of mines also reportedly discovered and disabled by security forces in Sangin, Nawozad, Nad Ali and Greshk Districts of Helmand that day.