13 killed in clashes in N. Afghanistan

Kathmandu: A total of eight militants, three police officers and two soldiers were killed during clashes in two of Afghanistan’s northern provinces Friday night, local authorities confirmed Saturday.

In the restive Kunduz province, three police and three militants were killed after policemen manning security checkpoint along a main road in Khan Abad district were attacked, deputy district chief Qudratullah Safi told Xinhua.

Four policemen, who went missing, were presumably captured by the militants after the clashes, the official added.

Two army soldiers and five militants were killed and two soldiers wounded when the soldiers fought back assailants attacking an army checkpoint in Nawabad, Dasht-e-Qala district in neighboring Takhar province, army official Abdul Qadir told Xinhua.

The region has been the scene of heavy clashes in recent years.

Violence still lingers in the war-torn country as peace talks between an Afghan government delegation and Taliban representatives are underway in the Qatari capital of Doha.