Ten Afghan security forces were killed and four others wounded in Taliban attacks in the northern Kunduz and Balkh provinces, according to local officials.
Amruddin Wali, a member of Kunduz Provincial Council, told Kabul Now that five members of the Afghan army and a policeman lost their lives in Taliban attacks in Khan Abad district in Kunduz province on Friday, March 12.
He added that the Taliban have taken a number of Afghan forces as hostages. An army soldier was killed in a separate Taliban attack in Kunduz, according to Mr. Wali.
The militant group, however, claims that they have killed 14 government forces and wounded three others in Kunduz province. They also claim to have taken four government forces as hostages.
The northeastern Kunduz province is insecure and the Taliban control large swaths of territory in the province.
On the other hand, as many as three army soldiers were killed and two others wounded after their outpost came under the Taliban attack in Shulgara district of the northern Balkh province. Talking to Kabul Now, Mohammad Afzal Hadid, further said that the Taliban launched their attacks last night, Friday, March 12, in Bagh-e-Pahlavan area of the district.
The 209 Shaheen Military Corps also confirmed the attack but did provide independent figures on casualties of the army soldiers.
Taking responsibility for the attack, the Taliban, however, claimed that ten government forces were killed and two others wounded in their attack in Shulgara district. The militant group further said that they have also taken one army soldier as hostage.
Situated in the northern part of the country, Balkh is a relatively secure province but some of its districts comes under sporadic attacks by the Taliban.
