7 ANA troops killed, 4 wounded in Balkh clash

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Security forces and Taliban militants suffered casualties during a clash in Chamtal district of northern Balkh province, an official said on Saturday.

HanifRezai, a spokesman for the 209rd Shaheen Corps in the northern zone, told Pajhwok Afghan News the Taliban attacked check-posts in Lab Nahr area of Chamtal district late on Friday night.

He said seven Afghan National Army troops were killed and four others wounded  in the clash that left four Taliban insurgents killed, including the deputy district chief for Charbolak district. Another four rebels were wounded in the clash.

The injured soldiers have been taken to a hospital and fresh troops had arrived in the area.

Mohammad Jan, a tribal elder from Chamtal district, said the fighting had been ongoing since last night and the check-post had fallen to the Taliban.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement that the fighters stormed check-posts in Chamtal, killing 11 security personnel and capturing one alive.  He denied the rebels suffered casualties.

bk/ma