Taliban ambush kills at least 25 Afghan security personnel

Oct 21, 2020 4:47 PM PHT

Agence France-Presse

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Taliban ambush kills at least 25 Afghan security personnel

Internally displaced people with their belongings flee from Nadali district to Lashkar Gah during the ongoing clashes between Taliban fighters and Afghan security forces, in Helmand province on October 14, 2020. - Tens of thousands of people in southern Afghanistan have fled their homes following days of heavy fighting between the Taliban and security forces, officials said on October 14, as violence continues to soar despite ongoing peace talks. (Photo by - / AFP)

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The spiralling violence across Afghanistan imperils ongoing peace talks between the hardline group and the government in Qatar

At least 25 Afghan security force personnel were killed in an ambush blamed on the Taliban in the northeast of the country, officials said Wednesday, October 21.

“Fighting is still continuing and the Taliban have also suffered heavy casualties,” Jawad Hejri, a spokesman for the governor of Takhar province told AFP.

Takhar provincial health director Abdul Qayoum confirmed the incident but said 34 security personnel had been killed – including the deputy police chief of the province.

“These security forces were on their way for an operation in the district when they were attacked by the Taliban,” said Hejri.

“The Taliban had taken positions in the houses around the area. They ambushed our forces who were there for an operation against the enemy.”

The Taliban have so far not commented on the attack.

It comes as spiralling violence across Afghanistan imperils ongoing peace talks between the hardline group and the government in Qatar. – Rappler.com