Two soldiers with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and five children were killed in a suicide attack in northern Afghan province of Kunduz yesterday, said an ISAF statement.

"In addition, the attacked also wounded one ISAF soldier and one civilian nearby," it added.

However, it did not disclose any further information saying "it is ISAF policy not to release the nationality of any casualty prior to the relevant national authority doing so."

Meanwhile, Zabihullah Mujahed, the purported Taliban spokesman took responsibility for the attack saying the outfit carried out that suicide attack against German troops in Chardara district of Kunduz province at around 2 p.m. local time (0930 GMT) inflicting great casualties on the troops.

There are around 3,500 German troops being deployed in relatively peaceful northern Afghan provinces of Kunduz and Badakhshan.

Spiraling conflicts and Taliban-linked insurgency have left more than 4,500 people dead so far this year in Afghanistan while Taliban insurgents recently vowed to intensify assaults against interests of Afghan government and international troops before the coming winter.