Afghan Service Personnel Killed In Military Base Attack

Some of the injured were taken to the Afghan capital, Kabul (Picture: Crown Copyright).

At least 12 people have died and more than 30 others were injured after a co-ordinated Taliban assault on a military base and police training centre in eastern Afghanistan.

Most of those killed in the attack in Maidan Wardak province were military personnel, according to public health department chief Salem Asgherkhail.

Some of the wounded were taken to local hospitals for treatment while the more serious cases were sent to the capital, Kabul.

Nasrat Rahimi, a spokesman for the interior ministry, said a suicide car bomber struck the base first, followed by insurgents who opened fire at the Afghan forces. At least two Taliban fighters were killed by Afghan troops, he added.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement to the media.

The attack was the latest in a series of near-daily assaults by the Taliban who now hold sway in almost half of the country.

The violence comes despite increased efforts by the United States to find a negotiated end to the country's 17-year war.

The UK leads the Kabul Security Force (KSF) in Afghanistan, which provides protection for NATO civilian staff engaged in capacity-building programmes in Afghanistan, and mentors Afghan forces in the capital.

In November, personnel from 3 PARA deployed to Afghanistan to support the British contribution to the NATO mission.

They took over from the Welsh Guards, 200 of which arrived in Afghanistan in September.

There are more than 1,000 UK personnel in Afghanistan, following an announcement to send 440 more troops to the country last July.