No fewer than 22 Afghan security forces killed in insider attack
At least 22 Afghan security forces in southern Zabul province have been killed in an insider attack, several local officials told dpa on Friday.
The attack started before dawn on an outpost manned by Afghan army and police which continued for an hour, provincial councillor Atta Jaan Haq Bayan said.
Seven security force members, who were described as infiltrators, are missing, Haq Bayan added initially.
The provincial governor, Rahmatullah Yarmal and another councillor Asadullah Kakar, similarly characterized the attackers.
According to Kakar, eight insiders with the support of the Taliban militant group killed their comrades while they were sleeping.
However, Yarmal said that the exact number of insiders was unknown because the attackers have also taken some captives.
The officials confirmed that the assailants have taken all weapons, ammunition and two military vehicles before torching the base and leaving the area.
All dead bodies were burned, governor Yarmal added.
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In a statement, the Afghan ministry of defence said that it is investigating the attack and will take revenge.
According to the local officials,the outpost located on the main highway some 15 kilometers away from Qalat, the capital of the province was providing support to the convoys coming from Kabul, Kandahar and Herat provinces.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility by the Taliban or other militant group.
The Afghan government blamed the Taliban militant group, who recently signed a deal with the U.S.
“This heinous act of the Taliban is a clear example of their commitment for continued violence and against the Afghan peace process,’’ Presidential spokesperson Sediq Sediqqi wrote on twitter.
It also came a day after the Afghan defence minister ordered troops to adopt an “active defence’’ posture.
The planned peace talks between the Afghan government and the militant group appear to have stalled, with no apparent breakthrough in plans for a prisoner swap. (dpa)
