WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2012 - Insurgents detonated a vehicle bomb today near Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan.

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta visited the base earlier in the day. Pentagon Press Secretary George Little, who is traveling with Panetta, issued a statement confirming the attack.

International Security Assistance Force officials are on the scene collecting facts and assessing the situation, Little said.

"I have no information at this time that this incident was associated with the visit of the secretary of defense," Little said, adding that the attack occurred after Panetta had returned to the Afghan capital of Kabul.