Sticky bomb explosion kills at least 3 Afghan police officers

At least three police officers have been reported dead in northeastern Afghanistan following a Wednesday sticky bomb explosion, with the Taliban claiming five more were injured.

A sticky bomb exploded in northeastern Afghanistan, killing at least three police officers on Wednesday, officials said.

Abdul Mateen Qani, a spokesman for the Taliban’s interior ministry, said the bomb which was "attached to a motorcycle, exploded in Faizabad, the capital of Badakhshan province," while a convoy of security forces was passing through, adding that five other officers were wounded.

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Qani said the officers were on their way to destroy poppy crops in the area.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack.

A few days ago Badakhshan witnessed violent protests against the Taliban’s poppy eradication campaign, propelling a high-ranking delegation led by the chief of military staff Fasihudin Fitrat to visit the region and negotiate with protestors.

Fitrat said Tuesday in a video message that he had addressed people's complaints and that the situation was under control. He added that locals backed poppy eradication across Badakhshan.

Protests erupted Friday after a man was shot and killed by Taliban forces after resisting poppy eradication attempts in Darayum district. Another was killed on Saturday during a protest in Argo district.