By MIRWAIS HAROONI | REUTERS ARABNEWS

KABUL: Afghan President Hamid Karzai ordered on Tuesday that eight would-be child suicide bombers, groomed by the Taleban but rescued by authorities, be sent back to their families.

The group, which includes a seven-year-old, are the youngest among some 20 children who were detained before conducting what authorities said were suicide bomb attacks across the country.

“These are our children whom the Taleban deceived,” Karzai told reporters as he marked Eid Al-Fitr, Islam’s most important festival, which honors the end of the Ramadan fasting month.

Suicide bombings have become more widespread across the country in recent months, with assailants taking to innovative tactics such as concealing bombs in turbans and using children.

“Five of the children will join their parents, we are looking for the parents of two more and the last child is afraid to go back due to security reasons,” Karzai’s deputy spokesman Simak Herawi said.

Karzai met the eight children last week in Kabul before ordering that they be sent home. READ MORE

Arrested or surrendered Afghan children and youth would-be suicide bombers met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan on Aug. 24, 2011. (AP)