At least 3 members of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) were killed and 19 civilians were wounded in a blast that targeted a security patrol in Gardez city, local officials in the eastern province said on Thursday.

Abdul Rahman Mangal, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said that the incident resulted from a car bomb that targeted a joint patrol of the Afghan security forces in Gardez.

He said that heavy losses and damages were caused to markets and businesses in the area.