Six international servicemembers with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) were killed and several other wounded when a suicide vehicle-born improvised explosive device exploded near an ISAF convoy and civilian vehicles travelling on Darulaman Road?in Kabul?on Tuesday morning.

A press release issued by the ISAF confirmed the casualties but failed to give more detail.

Numerous Afghan civilians were also killed and injured in the indiscriminate attack, said the press release.

"ISAF strongly condemns the attack on civilians and ISAF Forces. This sort of desperate brutality and aggression reminds us of the pessimism of an enemy who seek to kill the innocent and to stop the progress necessary for a better Afghanistan. This will not deter us from our mission of securing a better future for this country," said Brig.Gen. Josef Blotz, the ISAF spokesman.

The explosion additionally damaged five ISAF vehicles and more than a dozen civilian vehicles, said the press release, adding that ISAF is assisting the Afghan National Security Forces insecuring the bombing site and investigating the incident.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Afghan interior ministry in a statement said 12 civilians were killed in the incident and 47 others injured.