TALIBAN ATTACKS KILL 20 ARMY, POLICE, HOURS AFTER TRUMP CALL: OFFICIALS

Wed 04 March 2020:

The Taliban killed at least 20 Afghan soldiers and police officers in a string of overnight attacks, government officials told AFP Wednesday, hours after US President Donald Trump said he had a “very good” chat with the insurgents’ political chief.

The US conducted an airstrike against Taliban fighters in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, according to a US forces spokesman, who said the strike was in defense against the Taliban attack on an Afghan forces checkpoint.

The militants have ramped up violence against Afghan security forces in recent days, ending a partial truce put in place during the run-up to a landmark US-Taliban withdrawal deal signed in Doha on Saturday.

“Taliban fighters attacked at least three army outposts in Imam Sahib district of Kunduz last night, killing at least 10 soldiers and four police,” said Safiullah Amiri, a member of the provincial council.

A defense ministry official speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity confirmed the army toll while the provincial police spokesman Hejratullah Akbari confirmed the police fatalities.

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