Rocket lands near Italian embassy in Afghan capital Kabul

The official, who asked not to be named, said there was no immediate word on any casualties or damage from the blast, which followed a series of suicide attacks in Kabul earlier this month.

It was not immediately clear whether the embassy, which is located near other foreign missions, was specifically targeted.

Following talks in Islamabad last week, officials from Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United States and China are due to resume meeting in Kabul on Monday to try to agree a roadmap for a negotiated settlement with the insurgents.

The Taliban, increasingly successful on the battlefield since international troops ended most combat operations in 2014, have yet to agree to take part in the process.

(Reporting by James Mackenzie; Editing by Ros Russell)