Miawand attack ends after 23 security forces, 20 Taliban killed

LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): The governor on Saturday said the Taliban attack on a military base in Maiwand district of southern Helmand province came to an end with the killing of 23 security forces and 20 attacking militants.

The attack, involving a dozen Taliban militants, began on Friday night in the Maiwand Military Corps’ Shorabak base near Lashkargah, the provincial capital.

Governor Mohammad Yaseen Khan told Pajhwok Afghan News that the Taliban coordinated attack on  the Afghan National Army’s 215^thMiawand Military Corps ended this afternoon.

He said during the nighttime attack 23 security forces and 20 Taliban militants had been killed and 16 security forces and dozens of militants wounded.

He claimed the attack was planned in neighboring Pakistan and their target was the 215^thMiawand Military Corps.

However, a security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Pajhwok Afghan News around 45 security men had been killed in the assault.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi said clashes between the group and security forces were still underway and helicopter workshops on the Shorabak base had been torched.

Ahmadi claimed around 200 security personnel had been killed so far. However, he did not provide information about rebel casualties

The governor also said the Taliban stormed security check-posts in Sangain district late Friday night and killed six Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers, but Ahmadi claimed 12 security personnel had been killed in Sangian attacks.

pk/ma