School Children Killed By Taliban Assault On Police Checkpoint

Library picture of Afghan security forces (Picture: PA).

A Taliban assault on a police checkpoint has led to the deaths of four schoolchildren in Afghanistan, an official in eastern Ghazni province said.

A spokesman for the provincial governor said 17 others, including 15 students and two teachers, were wounded when an explosion likely to have been caused by a rocket hit the school in Andar district.

Arif Noori added that the youngsters who died were aged between 10 and 16.

He said provincial officials are investigating who fired the projectile during the confrontation between security forces and Taliban.

Taliban insurgents have stepped up their attacks against Afghan security targets in recent months.

In a separate incident in north-eastern Badakhshan province, Taliban insurgents overran a district headquarters, said Nek Mohammad Nazari, a spokesman for the provincial governor.

"Afghan security forces retreated from the Arghanj Khowa district headquarters to avoid civilian causalities," said Mr Nazari. He added reinforcements have been dispatched to repel the Taliban.

The Taliban assault began on Thursday night, killing four police and wounding five others, according to officials.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban, claimed the attack. He said Taliban fighters seized large amounts of ammunition and weapons as well as two military vehicles.

Badakhshan province has 28 districts, and at least two other districts, Wardoj and Yamgan, are already under Taliban control.