At least six people have been killed and 40 others wounded when a suicide bomber, believed to be in his early teens, targeted a wedding celebration in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province, according to local officials.

The attacker set off his explosives early on Friday inside the house of a pro-government commander in Pachir Aw Agam district, police official Fayz Mohammad Babarkhil said.

Atahullah Khogyani, a spokesman for Nangarhar province's governor, said 40 wounded people were rushed to hospital. There were fears the death toll could rise.

Local residents told Reuters news agency that at least 10 people were killed in the blast.

The Taliban, who has pledged to try to reduce civilian casualties, denied responsibility for the attack.

Pro-government militias often work with overstretched Afghan security forces to prevent territories falling into the hands of the Taliban.

The affiliate of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS) has a strong presence in Nangarhar.

Last month, a suicide bomber blew himself up near a police vehicle in Nangarhar's capital, Jalalabad, killing at least three officers and six civilians and wounding another 13 people.

ISIL claimed responsibility for that attack.

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• Terrorism
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