Eleven killed and 12 injured as rocket hits Afghan wedding

A rocket has hit a wedding ceremony in Afghanistan's northern Faryab province, killing 11 people and injuring 12 others.

"The casualties include women and children, including the bride, who was wounded in the incident," Ahmad Javed Bedar, a spokesman for Faryab governor said.

The rocket hit as the bride was getting ready to leave for the groom's house, he said.

A local provincial council member, Sibghatullah Sailab, said the village where the incident took place was under Taliban control.

Government forces were conducting an operation to clear the area of Taliban at the time of the incident but were not active in the village, Sailab said, adding that Taliban and security forces are accusing each other of firing the rocket.

Civilians are increasingly caught in the crossfire of the bitter battle between insurgents and security forces in Afghanistan.