Taliban captures check posts in Nangarhar

KABUL (Agencies): Taliban insurgents launched a series of attacks on Afghan security posts in Pachiragam, Haska Mina and Surkhrod districts in eastern Nangarhar province, officials said Wednesday.

Hijratullah, Pachiragam district chief, said the Taliban had attacked check posts belonging to Afghan Army and local protection forces in the Pera Khel and Bama Khel areas. He said casualties had been suffered by both sides but that the exact numbers were not known. A local security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Ariana News that five checkpoints and a small base had collapsed to the Taliban and that six soldiers were killed.

He also said a further 13 had been captured by the Taliban, but that efforts are underway to free them. In addition to this, the Taliban attacked the local army and local protection forces’ posts in the Tarale Kando area of Haska Mina district. Obaidullah Shinwari, a member of the Nangarhar provincial council, said three checkpoints had collapsed to the insurgents and that five soldiers were killed and 18 others wounded – four of whom are in critical condition.

Meanwhile, Taliban insurgents attacked a police checkpoint in the Kakarak area of the Sorkh Road district, causing the checkpoint to collapse, officials said. Farid Khan, a spokesman for the Nangarhar police chief, said two soldiers were killed and three others wounded at the checkpoint. Farid said 20 Taliban insurgents were also killed in the clashes in the three districts. The Taliban have also confirmed casualties, but the exact number is not clear.