Eight policemen killed in Taliban assault on Balkh security base

At least eight policemen were killed after Taliban militants stormed a security base in northern Balkh province, police confirmed.

Adil Shah Adil, a spokesman for Balkh police said the militants attacked the Shahrak Afghania Base in the Nahr-e-Shahi district of the provinces on Saturday night.

Adil stated that eight policemen were killed and six others wounded in the skirmish.

The relatives of the victims, however, said 14 policemen lost their lives in the attack. They accused the Balkh police chief of neglecting to provide adequate support at the base.

According to them, the Afghan forces ran out of ammunition.

Meanwhile, policemen told Ariana News that police headquarters did not deploy reinforcement troops despite their requests.

The police spokesman stated that the Taliban had planted mines along the road to the base and “due to bad weather conditions we could not provide air support.”

Adil added that at least seven Taliban militants were killed and five more injured in the clashes.

The Taliban have meanwhile reportedly increased their operations in Nahr-e-Shahi, the closest district to the Balkh capital Mazar-e-Sharif city.

The militants have carried out seven coordinated attacks against the base during the past year, sources said.

At least 30 members of the Afghan forces have been killed and a number of soldiers wounded in these attacks.

The Taliban confirmed its fighters overran an outpost in the Shahrak Turkeni area of the district.

The group claimed at least 12 soldiers were killed in the attack.