The families of 10 Afghan girls killed in a blast in eastern Afghanistan on Monday bury their young loved ones.br br The girls, aged between nine and 11-years-old, were collecting firewood in a remote region near the border with Pakistan when the explosion happened.br br It wasn't immediately clear what caused the blast, but some have suggested it could have been a bomb planted by insurgents or a landmine left over from decades of conflict.br br One resident heard the explosion.br br (SOUNDBITE) (Pashto) RESIDENT JAN MOHAMMAD, SAYING:br br "I was eating breakfast when I heard a bang. I came out of my house to see what had happened. Nearby children asked me to bring some bedspreads, then I got back home and took my car. Later I carried three of the wounded children to the public health centre."br br Women and children are often victims of the war between the Taliban and U.S.-led NATO and Afghan forces.br br Many Afghans are growing increasingly worried that the nation could face another civil war or a major Taliban push to seize power when most foreign troops leave by the end of 2014.