HERAT, Afghanistan - The father of an Afghan girl who represented her country in a robotics competition in the United States died in this week's Herat mosque attack, her family said on Thursday.

Fifteen-year-old Fatema Qaderyan was part of the six-member team of Afghan teenage girls who won hearts across the globe when they competed in the international youth event in Washington last month.

They made headlines after twice being denied US visas, and were only able to travel from war-torn Afghanistan for the FIRST Global Challenge following a late intervention by US President Donald Trump.

The suicide attack on the Jawadya mosque killed dozens and was claimed by the Islamic State group.

"We are all devastated, Fatema hasn't eaten or spoken since the incident, and is in a state of shock. Today after she fainted several times, doctors started IV fluid therapy," Mohammad Reza said.

The six girls are all from Herat, which lies close to the Iranian border in the west of Afghanistan.

Agence France-presse