25 Afghan soldiers killed in Taliban attack

Kabul, February 25: At least 25 Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers and two Taliban insurgents have been killed during a clash in the Bala Baluk district of western Farah province, an official said on Saturday.

He said 25 soldiers were killed and three army tanks destroyed, with the insurgents taking away a number of weapons and ammunition. However, he was unaware of the militants’ casualties.

Qari Yousaf Ahmadi, Taliban’s spokesman, claimed 20 ANA soldiers and two militants were killed in the attack by members of the group. Two of the attackers were injured and two soldiers caught alive, he said.

The deputy governor Mohmmad Younos Rasouly also confirmed the incident but did not provide details.

Meanwhile, over nine Taliban insurgents were killed during the operations of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces in northern Baghlan province of Afghanistan.

The security situation has started to deteriorate in Afghanistan during the recent years as the anti-government armed militant groups are attempting to expand their insurgency in some key Northern and northeastern provinces.

However, the Afghan national defense and security forces are busy conducting terrorism operations to suppress the insurgency of the militant groups.