A Taliban attack against the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) wounded three local children in Helmand province of southern Afghanistan on Wednesday, an ISAF statement said.

Taliban insurgents fired mortar rounds towards an ISAF military base in Gereshk district at around 12:00 p.m., said the statement, which added the mortar rounds missed the target and landed in a local village, 1 km south of the base.

"Unfortunately, three local children were hit in the attack," the statement said. The three children received immediate medical care in the ISAF base first, and were flown to a nearby ISAF medical facility for further treatment, it said, adding "One child is in critical condition."

"The casualties were caused by Taliban insurgents and this is another example of their reckless disregard for human life," said Squadron Leader Dave Marsh, an ISAF spokesperson.

Helmand, famous for its gigantic opium product, has been a hotbed of Taliban militants, who clash with foreign and government troops frequently. Due to rising Taliban-linked insurgency, over 300 persons, mostly Taliban militants, have been killed in Afghanistan this year.

Source: Xinhua