Afghan police discovered 7 tons of explosive material in northern Kunduz province on Monday, provincial police chief said.

"The contraband was packed in cement bags in an attempt to take it in Kunduz city for terrorist attacks, but the police during routine check found it fortunately from a truck and arrested five people in this case," Samiullah Qatra told Xinhua.

He added that the explosive material was imported from Pakistan.

Afghan officials often blamed Pakistan for backing Taliban militants, a claim rejected by Islamabad as groundless.