14 Afghan security forces killed as violence grips country
At least 14 Afghan soldiers and police were killed during strong fighting with the Taliban in southern Afghanistan, officials said Monday, as unabated violence gripped the united states despite ongoing peace talks.
Taliban fighters launched an overnight assault late Sunday on several Afghan security force positions in the southern province of Uruzgan, inflicting much toll that left Afghan troops vulnerable to being overrun.
The government-controlled district of Gizab also risked falling into insurgent hands, officials said.
“Intense fighting is ongoing. Our forces have retreated from several outposts,” Zelgai Ebadi, a spokesman for the provincial governor, told AFP.
Officials said 14 Afghan security forces had been killed and more than a dozen more wounded.
“The fighting is currently near to police headquarters. We are looking for more reinforcements,” said Amir Mohammad Barekzai, head of the Uruzgan provincial council.
The battle comes as Taliban and Afghan government negotiators are meeting in Doha, where they want to find a way to get rid of 19 years of war.
A hopeful begin to the talks greater than a week ago was immediately marred by fresh violence across Afghanistan, and negotiators have made little tangible progress.
On Saturday in the northeastern province of Kunduz, the Afghan air force conducted multiple strikes on Taliban positions that killed a lot more than 30 insurgent fighters, military officials said.
However, local officials on Monday said the strikes killed at least 17 civilians.
Esmatullah Muradi, spokesman for the Kunduz provincial governor, said the civilians died because they gathered at the website of a short strike against the Taliban.
“Based on our initial investigation, 17 civilians were also killed and 15 more injured in the second air strike,” Muradi told AFP, saying an “unknown number” of militants had been killed.
The defence ministry hasn't confirmed any civilian casualties and said it had been investigating the case.
The inside ministry meanwhile said the Taliban had killed 98 civilians and wounded 230 more in the last fourteen days in Afghanistan.
In Kabul, at least one person was killed and three more injured Monday in three separate explosions due to so-called sticky bombs - homemade devices attached to vehicles with magnets that are regularly used to focus on security forces.
No group immediately claimed responsibility.
Speaking in Kabul, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani however appeared hopeful about peace talks.
“Peace isn't possible without compromise,” he told a gathering to mark International Peace Day.
“Peace talks are like playing chess. Show patience,” he said.
