TALIQAN, Afghanistan - A roadside bomb struck a vehicle in northern Takhar province, killing five people including a local official on Monday, an official said.

"The deadly incident happened in Ashkamish district at 11:50 am local time as a result five people, including the mayor of Ashkamish district along with four others were killed," spokesman for provincial administration Faizullah Tawhidi told Xinhua.

He also blamed the attack on the Taliban militants, saying the outfit by organizing such attacks wants to destabilize the province, but Taliban militants fighting the government are yet to comment.