Officials say lives of some 600 troops under threat in ongoing fighting as Taliban fighters storm all security posts around a government compound in western Badghis province.
Afghan Taliban attacked a government compound in western Badghis province, killing at least 20 troops and policemen, Afghan provincial officials said on Thursday.
Mohammad Nasir Nazari, a provincial council member, said the "massive attack" took place before dawn on Thursday, and that it targeted the government headquarters in the district of Balal Murgab.
He said the Taliban stormed all the security posts around the compound under the cover of darkness.
He said that the lives of some 600 members of the security forces deployed there are under threat.
Intense fighting
Jamshid Shahabhi, spokesman for the Badgis' governor, said intense fighting in the district is still underway.
He said he fears more casualties by the government.
Taliban spokesman Qari Yousf Ahmadi claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement to the media.
Demining projects have cleared about 80 percent of all the unexploded devices in Afghanistan, but recent fighting between the government and the Taliban is threatening those efforts pic.twitter.com/Tiyp0x2HrO
— TRT World (@trtworld) April 4, 2019
Peace talks and fighting
Despite peace talks in Doha with the US officials, Afghan Taliban stage near-daily attacks on Afghan forces, inflicting staggering casualties, and now hold sway over half of the country.
The insurgents refuse to talk directly with the government in Kabul, considering it a US puppet.
Increased fighting also heightens concerns about civilian casualties, after a record 3,804 civilians were killed last year, said Anthony Neal, advocacy manager for the Norwegian Refugee Council in Afghanistan.
More conflict has also forced nearly 4,000 people from their homes in the last three months alone, he said.
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