Afghanistan: 20 soldiers killed in Taliban attacks

The Taliban mounted attacks on two military check posts here in the western Farah province bordering Iran on Sunday, killing at least 20 Afghanistan soldiers and injuring 11.

While five Taliban members were also killed in the attack, more than 10 Afghan soldiers have been taken as hostages by the group.

The Governor of Pusht Rod district confirmed the attacks by the Taliban on two military check posts and told Anadolu Agency that the confrontation started on Saturday night and carried on till the wee hours of Sunday morning. He further mentioned that arms and ammunition have also been taken by the Taliban group while confirming the abovementioned figures.

However, Muhibullah Muhib, the provincial police headquarters' spokesman, confirmed the death of only 10 soldiers, adding that Special Forces reached the site to free five soldiers who have been taken hostage by Taliban.

Meanwhile, Taliban's spokesperson Qari Yosuf Ahmadi claimed that 21 Afghan soldiers were killed, while 12 soldiers have been taken in as captives by the group while taking full responsibility for the attacks. He further mentioned that no Taliban member has been killed in the attack.

Taliban had recently launched an attack on a number of security check posts in Jawzjan province in northern Afghanistan, which led to the death of at least 15 Afghan security personnel and left 26 security personnel injured.

The attack in Farah comes just a few days after a Taliban delegation met US' Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad in Qatar to discuss "a peaceful solution in Afghanistan".

-ANI