TALIBAN ATTACK ON CHECKPOINTS IN REMOTE NORTHEAST KILLS 16 POLICEMEN

Badakhshan,16 Rajab 1436/5 May 2015 (MINA) – Taliban terrorists have attacked checkpoints in a remote northeastern region in Afghanistan, killing at least 16 policemen.

Nilofar Ibrahimi, an Afghan lawmaker, said on Monday that militants launched a series of deadly raids on checkpoints in the northeastern province of Badakhshan on Sunday night.

Ibrahimi added that 13 of the killed security personnel were members of border police units while three others were public protection officers.

The lawmaker also noted that at least seven other policemen are still missing following the deadly raids in the remote region, Press Tv quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the coordinated attacks. The group said in a statement that the assaults were part of the annual so-called spring offensive that began late last month.

The attacks in Badakhshan came against the backdrop of a bombing in the capital, Kabul, on Monday, which targeted a bus transporting staff members of the office of Afghanistan’s Attorney General. One person was killed and more than a dozen others were injured, local authorities and witnesses said.

Kabul’s Deputy Police Chief Gul Agha Rouhani confirmed that the terror attack had “taken place in the Police District 6” and that it targeted the official vehicle.

Taliban say their spring offensive is against Afghan security forces as well as foreign embassies and troops across the country.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had earlier expressed concern about the country’s security issues as the fighting season with Taliban looms. Ghani predicted a difficult spring regarding the security of the country.

The US-led combat mission in war-torn Afghanistan ended on December 31, 2014. The 2001 invasion of the country by the United States and its allies removed Taliban from power, but insecurity is still rife across the country. (T/P002/R04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)