At least 11 police killed in fresh clashes in W. Afghanistan

KABUL: At least 11 police officers were killed after Taliban militants attacked security checkpoints in Afghanistan’s western province of Badghis overnight, Xinhua news agency reported , quoting local media Tolo News TV yesterday.

“Dozens of Taliban fighters armed with guns and heavy weapons stormed police checkpoints in Muqur district, 15km north of provincial capital Qala- e- Naw Monday night. The clashes left 11 police killed,” Ziaull Haq Firoz Koahi, advisor to government chief executive office and resident of Badghis, was quoted in the report as saying.

He said several militants were also killed and wounded during the clashes which lasted for hours.

The clashes have brought the casualties of security forces to more than 30 in the province, 555km northwest of Kabul.

On Sunday night, more than 20 army soldiers were killed, 10 wounded and 28 soldiers were captured by Taliban after a large number of militants attacked an army camp in neighboring Bala

Dozens of Taliban fighters armed with guns and heavy weapons stormed police checkpoints in Muqur district, 15km north of provincial capital Qala-eNaw Monday night. The clashes left 11 police killed.

Ziaull Haq Firoz Koahi, advisor to government chief executive office

Murghab district.

The province has been the scene of clashes and fighting for long.

The militants intensified attacks against security forces and staged several coordinated large- scale attacks against Afghan cities and districts since early last year.

The latest clashes came as political negotiations have been continuing between Taliban representatives and a US negotiation team, headed by US Special Representative for Afghan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad. — Bernama