Two people have been killed and at least 10 injured in Afghanistan after gunmen opened fire in a mosque during prayers in a province bordering Kabul.

In a separate incident, also near the capital, a mullah was shot dead.

The mosque shooting took place in Wardak province which borders Kabul. A police chief said around 10 gunmen entered the building in Abad district.

They opened fire, killing two people and injuring others including a boy. Police are trying to find a motive.

Abducted

But it does not appear to be any kind of tribal or local dispute, and the Taleban are suspected to be responsible.

In neighboring Logar province on Tuesday night the Afghan interior ministry said a mullah on his way home from prayers was abducted and then shot a number of times.

He died of his injuries.

Attacks on religious figures, especially against those perceived to be pro-government, have increased over the past year.

But they are still unusual.

They are also a reminder that the resistance is not just limited to bombings and fighting in the south and east of the country.

Assassinations and tactics designed to intimidate local people are being used across Afghanistan and are getting increasingly close to the capital.

PHOTO CAPTION

Pul-e-Khashti mosque in Kabul