Afghan security forces and Taliban militants clashed overnight in the Pasaband district of western Gho province, with both sides suffering casualties, police said on Friday.
Ghor police chief Brig. Gen. Mustafa Muhseni told Pajhwok Afghan News the rebels also captured some security posts during the last night clashes that left three policemen injured and one rebel fighter dead.
A public order policeman, who was injured in the clash, told Pajhwok Afghan News: “We were informed that the Taliban will attack our posts. It was 10pm when the attack began.”
He said the national police instead of fighting abandoned their posts. “There were 15 public order police personnel in our post and seven of them were injured,” he said.
A security official, Asadullah, from the scene told Pajhwok Afghan News that the clash was still ongoing. He said the Afghan Air Force helicopter gunships were pounding Taliban positions and the rebels were now fleeing.
Doctors at the civil hospital in Ghor said the injured security personnel were in a stable condition.
The Taliban have said nothing so far about the clash. But the Taliban on their website claimed attacking and capturing three security posts in Shinkot district of Ghor.
Pasaband district borders southern Helmand province’s Baghran district where the Taliban have been in control over the past 10 years.
By Hassan Hakimi
