A Mullah Imam of a mosque was blown up by own explosives in southeastern Paktika province of Afghanistan, local officials said.

The mother of the prayer leader who was accompanying him was also killed following the explosion.

According to the local government officials, the prayer leader, identified as Mawlavi Shurhratullah had planted the explosives in his motorcycle and was on his way towards the house of one his relatives when the blast took place.

The officials further added that the Imam had links with the Taliban group and was involved in major roadside bombings.

In the meantime, the Taliban group rejected that the Mawlavi Mukhlis had links with the group and claimed that he was killed in airstrike by coalition forces.