More Than 50 Afghan Security Forces Killed By Taliban

Afghan forces being trained by the US (Picture: PA).

Taliban insurgents have killed at least 52 people in separate attacks on Afghan security forces in the north of the country.

The head of the provincial council in Kunduz province, Mohammad Yusouf Ayubi, said at least 13 security forces were killed and 15 others wounded in an attack on a checkpoint they were manning in Dashti Archi district.

Meanwhile in Jawzjan province, Afghan forces were forced to withdraw from their headquarters in the Khamyab district to avoid civilian casualties.

Police chief Gen Faqir Mohammad Jawzjani said the Taliban attacked the district from different sides - resulting in the killing of at least eight policemen and leaving three other police officers wounded. 

Mr Jawzjani added that seven Taliban were killed and eight injured in the battle. 

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the group was behind the attacks in Kunduz and Jawzjan provinces.

The Taliban also killed 14 local Afghan policemen and pro-government militiamen in the Dara Suf district of Samangan province, according to provincial spokesman Sediq Azizi, who said that six others were also wounded.

Mr Azizi added that three Taliban fighters were killed and four others were wounded during the battle.

No-one claimed responsibility for the attack on Samangan but Mr Azzi blamed the Taliban who are active in the area.

At least a further 17 Afghan security forces personnel were killed and three wounded in the northern Sari Pul province, according to provincial governor Zahir Wahdat.

Mr Wahdat said 39 Taliban fighters were killed and 14 others were wounded in the battles, adding that the death toll could rise.

Since a June ceasefire that marked the Islamic holiday of Eid al Fitr, the Taliban has increased attacks against Afghanistan's security forces, killing hundreds of security personnel in increasingly well-coordinated assaults across the country.

Since then, attacks against military installations have been relentless, and on several occasions the Afghan National Security Forces (Ansa) have been out-gunned and out-manoeuvred.

During the three-day ceasefire, pictures circulated of Taliban arm-in-arm with Afghan security forces, singing and taking selfies together.

This sparked Mohammad Yaqub, the son of the Taliban's founder, Mullah Mohammed Omar, to circulate a harshly worded audio tape condemning the behaviour. 

Washington's watchdog, the special inspector general for Afghanistan's reconstruction, noted weaknesses within the security forces, including desertions, inadequate training and corruption.

Since 2014, Ansa has taken the lead in the war against insurgents, with the UK, US and NATO providing support and training.

However, the Taliban have increased in strength and, according to the special inspector general, nearly half the country is either under their direct control or deeply influenced by them.

Earlier this month, 200 UK troops were deployed to Afghanistan to bolster the UK-led Kabul Security Force and also mentor Afghan forces in the capital as part of a NATO mission.

A further 240 UK soldiers will be deployed to the country in February 2019, which will take the number of UK personnel in the country to around 1,100.