Three children were killed and another was injured after a mortar shell left over from past wars exploded in Khogyani district of Nangarhar province.
According to local Taliban security officials, the incident occurred in the Zavi area of Khogyani district when several children were playing with the old mortar shell.
The officials said the shell exploded while the children were handling it, killing three children and injuring another.
Following the explosion, Taliban security forces arrived at the scene and transported the injured child to a hospital for medical treatment, according to local officials.
The incident highlights the continuing danger posed by unexploded ordnance and remnants of past conflicts across Afghanistan. Decades of war have left mines, mortar shells and other explosive remnants in residential areas, farmland and other locations used by civilians.
Children are particularly vulnerable because they may not recognize the danger posed by abandoned military items.
Local authorities have previously urged residents to avoid touching suspicious explosive objects and to inform security or clearance teams when such items are discovered.
The incident underscores the continuing risks faced by Afghan communities from explosive remnants of war, particularly in areas where children live and play.