An explosion in eastern Afghanistan near the border with Pakistan killed nine children and wounded four.

The AP reported, citing a statement from the governor's office, that the explosion occurred when a cart selling food came across an old unexploded shell in the Lalitpur district of eastern Nangarhar province.

The province is the headquarters of the Taliban rival group Islamic State, which has staged several attacks against Afghanistan's new rulers since the Taliban seized power in the country in mid-August. But IS has been active in Afghanistan since 2014, carrying out dozens of terrorist attacks, most often targeting Shiite Muslims living in the country.

Afghanistan is among the countries with the highest number of unexploded mines and other munitions. Children are often the victims when munitions detonate.