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https://www.dawn.com/news/1538327/20-afghan-security-personnel-killed-in-attacks-by-taliban
Taliban killed at least 20 Afghan soldiers and policemen in a string of overnight attacks, Afghan government officials told AFP on Wednesday.
“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.
The insurgents also attacked police in central Uruzgan province Tuesday night, with the governor's spokesman Zergai Ebadi telling AFP: “Unfortunately, six police were killed and seven wounded”.
Trump talks to Taliban leader for 35 minutes
The attacks came to light hours after US President Donald Trump said he had had a “very good” chat with the insurgents' political chief.
ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER AD
Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House, said he had “a very good talk with the leader of the Taliban”, without naming him.
The 35-minute call came a day after the militants ended a partial truce and threw into doubt peace talks between Kabul and the militants that are due to begin on March 10, according to the US-Taliban agreement signed on Saturday.
A transcript of the phone call released by the Taliban quoted fighter-turned-negotiator Mullah Baradar urging Trump to “take determined actions in regard to the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan”.
Peace deal
Under the terms of the US-Taliban agreement signed on Saturday, foreign forces will quit Afghanistan within 14 months, subject to Taliban security guarantees and a pledge by the insurgents to hold talks with Kabul.
ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER AD
But a dispute over a prisoner swap has raised questions about whether the negotiations between Kabul and the Taliban will go ahead.
The latest deadlock emerged after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, just a day after the deal was signed in Doha, rejected a clause relating to the swap of prisoners. "There is no commitment to releasing 5,000 [Taliban] prisoners," he had said.
The militant Taliban group responded to Ghani's statement by ruling out intra-Afghan talks unless prisoners were released. A day later, a spokesman for the militant group announced the start of attacks against the Kabul administration.
According to the deal, 5,000 Taliban prisoners held by the Afghan government will be freed in return for 1,000 captives
Taliban killed at least 20 Afghan soldiers and policemen in a string of overnight attacks, Afghan government officials told AFP on Wednesday.
“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.
The insurgents also attacked police in central Uruzgan province Tuesday night, with the governor's spokesman Zergai Ebadi telling AFP: “Unfortunately, six police were killed and seven wounded”.
Trump talks to Taliban leader for 35 minutes
The attacks came to light hours after US President Donald Trump said he had had a “very good” chat with the insurgents' political chief.
ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER AD
Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House, said he had “a very good talk with the leader of the Taliban”, without naming him.
The 35-minute call came a day after the militants ended a partial truce and threw into doubt peace talks between Kabul and the militants that are due to begin on March 10, according to the US-Taliban agreement signed on Saturday.
A transcript of the phone call released by the Taliban quoted fighter-turned-negotiator Mullah Baradar urging Trump to “take determined actions in regard to the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan”.
Peace deal
Under the terms of the US-Taliban agreement signed on Saturday, foreign forces will quit Afghanistan within 14 months, subject to Taliban security guarantees and a pledge by the insurgents to hold talks with Kabul.
ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER AD
But a dispute over a prisoner swap has raised questions about whether the negotiations between Kabul and the Taliban will go ahead.
The latest deadlock emerged after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, just a day after the deal was signed in Doha, rejected a clause relating to the swap of prisoners. "There is no commitment to releasing 5,000 [Taliban] prisoners," he had said.
The militant Taliban group responded to Ghani's statement by ruling out intra-Afghan talks unless prisoners were released. A day later, a spokesman for the militant group announced the start of attacks against the Kabul administration.
According to the deal, 5,000 Taliban prisoners held by the Afghan government will be freed in return for 1,000 captives
