Around eighteen people were killed or wounded after an explosion ripped through a mobile phone market in southeastern Khost province of Afghanistan.

According to the local officials, the incident took place around noon time in the provincial Khost city.

Provincial police chief Faizullah Ghairat confirmed the incident but put the death toll to one person while confirming ten others were wounded in the explosion.

However, the provincial public health officials said at least four people were killed and thirteen others were wounded in the incident.

In the meantime, provincial police chief said the incident took place after explosives planted inside the market went off.

It is yet not clear who was the target of the explosion and no individual or group has claimed responsibility behind the attack yet.

Khost is among the relatively peaceful provinces in southeastern parts of the country but the anti-government armed militant groups have recently increased their insurgency activities in this province.

Several terrorist related activities and explosions have been reported in the provincial capital and other parts of the province since the start of the year.