Car bomb kills 13 at Afghanistan checkpoint

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - An Afghan official says a suicide car bomber detonated his explosives at a busy checkpoint in central Afghanistan, killing at least 13 people. The Taliban quickly claimed responsibility for the attack.

The deputy chief of police of Panjshir province, Najim Khan, says six police officers were killed along with seven civilians in the attack Thursday afternoon.

Khan said most of the civilians were in a bus waiting to be searched at the checkpoint, which marks the entrance into Panjshir from Parwan province.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a text message that one of its fighters had exploded a car bomb in Panjshir.

The insurgency has intensified its attacks across Afghanistan to sow insecurity and weaken the government as international forces prepare to withdraw by the end of this year.