At least six police were killed in a roadside mine blast in the western province of Badghis on Thursday morning, local officials confirmed.

The incident took place in Qarquch village of Moqur district after a police vehicle struck the roadside mine, provincial police chief Shir Aqa Alokozai said.

“The police were traveling to Qala-e-Naw, (center of the province) to collect their salaries when their vehicle struck the roadside mine,” Alokozai said.

“The mine was planted by the Taliban,” he added.

The Taliban have not commented on the incident.