Rocket hits Afghan government compound during ceremony, 16 children wounded

People look at a damaged police vehicle after a blast on April 24, in Jalalabad, Afghanistan

A rocket hit the provincial governor's compound in Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province on Monday during a religious ceremony, wounding at least 16 children, local officials said, blaming Taliban insurgents. Fighting between the Afghan government and the Taliban has increased across the country recently as peace talks failed to make progress despite international calls to reduce violence. At least 16 children, three Afghan security force members and religious affairs officials were wounded, Iqbal Sayeed, the governor of Kunar said, and some children are in critical condition. The Taliban said they were aware of the incident and investigating. The Afghan government says since the announcement by US President Joe Biden this month of plans to withdraw American combat troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, the Taliban have stepped up attacks on Afghan security forces. More than a hundred Afghan civilians and security forces have been killed in fighting in the last 10 days and many more wounded, according to government officials. A roadside bomb hit an army vehicle in the eastern city of Jalalabad on Monday, wounding six people. Taliban insurgents killed eight members of a police public protection unit in southeastern Logar province on Sunday, police spokesman Gul Haidar Ahmadi said.