Over 25 killed in Afghanistan checkpoint clashes

Kabul: More than 25 people were killed after Taliban militants attacked police checkpoints in two Afghan provinces overnight, officials said on Friday.

In one incident, nine police officers, including a district police chief, were killed and six policemen wounded when Taliban militants stormed police checkpoints in Ghazni city, capital of the province with the same name, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Several militants were also killed and wounded during exchange of fire in Police District 3, outer side of Ghazni city and sporadic clashes continued till Friday morning. District police chief Mujib Rahman Mahmoodi also lost his life in the clashes," provincial police spokesman Ahmad Khan Serat said.

In Badakhshan province, five security forces, two civilians and eight Taliban militants were killed after clashes in Arghanjkhaw district.

"Militants armed with guns and rocket propelled grenades attacked police checkpoints in the district centre. The security forces fought back the attackers, who tried to capture the district administrative complex," an official said.

Zabiullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesman, claimed the insurgent fighters seized control of Arghanjkhaw after driving out the security forces.

In a separate incident, four Taliban militants were killed and two security forces wounded in clashes in Kaykhonak, an area on the outskirts of Aybak city, according to an Army official.

Among those killed was a Taliban local leader named Obaidullah.