A remote-controlled bomb Wednesday morning hit Ismael Khil district in eastern Afghan province of Khost, injuring at least four local employees working with an Indian company, said an official.

Dawurat Khan Qayumi, the district chief, told Xinhua that it occurred at 8:30 a.m. local time (0400 GMT) when the vehicle of Afghan labours working with one Indian road construction company was struck by remote-controlled bomb planted in advanced by militants.

"So far at least four local employees of the company were injured in the blast," Qayumi said.

No group or individuals have yet to claim responsibility for the attack while Taliban militants often carried out such attacks targeting those working for foreign companies or troops.

Conflicts and Taliban-linked insurgency had left over 5,000 people with some 2,000 of them dead in 2008 while the violence is predicted to go up in 2009 in the post-Taliban central Asian state.

(Xinhua News Agency February 4, 2009)