A suicide bombing that struck a local construction company in Paktika province, 155 km southeast of Afghan capital Kabul, late Sunday has killed 24 people and injured 59 others, a statement released by provincial administration on Monday said.

"A suicide bomber riding an explosive-laden vehicle blew it up in Zahir road Construction Company, a local firm in Barmal district, at 8:20 p.m. local time on Sunday and according to the latest report, 24 employees of the company have lost their lives and 59 others were injured," the statement asserted. All the victims are Afghans and were involved in building roads in the area. Meanwhile, Taliban militants claimed of responsibility for the attack. Zabihullah Mujahid who claims to speak for armed outfit in talks with media from undisclosed location said the militants attacked a joint base of Afghan and NATO-led forces, killing several soldiers.

However, the statement of provincial administration rejected the claim, saying all the victims were local workers and the injured men were receiving medical treatment in provincial capital hospital and coalition forces medical facilities.

Paktika and neighboring Khost province has been seeing an escalation of Taliban-led insurgency over the past couples of years.