Kandahar clashes leave 15 police, 25 Taliban dead

KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): Fifteen police personnel and 25 Taliban gunmen have been killed separately in southern Kandahar province, officials said on Tuesday.

Daud Ahmadi, the governor’s spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News that insurgents stormed border police check-points in Ongah locality of Arghistan district last night, with the ensuing clash stretching into Tuesday morning.

The clash left 25 Taliban attackers and six police dead and another 15 insurgents and 10 police wounded, Ahmadi said.

 Separately, nine security forces were killed and five others wounded during clashes with Taliban militants in Lakari, Sarkari, Weali and Wangi localities of the Spin Boldak district late on Monday night, a security official, who wished to go unnamed, told Pajhwok.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi confirmed the clashes in Spin Boldak and claimed the fighters captured four check-posts and killed nine policemen and wounded a number of others.

However, he did not provide information about the clash in Arghistan district.

pk/ma