Two district police chiefs, 8 soldiers killed in Baghlan, Ghazni clashes

At least ten security force members, including police chiefs from two Baghlan provincial districts, were killed in Taliban attacks on Friday night in Julga district, security sources confirmed.

According to them, the Taliban launched an attack on Julga district, just after midnight, from a number of different directions. The skirmishes continued into Saturday morning, sources said.

Gulbuddin Ghafoori, the police chief for Julga district, and Lotful-ul-Haq, the police chief for Burka district of Baghlan, were killed in the clashes.

Lotful-ul-Haq, the police chief for Burka, went to Julga district to help security forces push back the Taliban, sources said.

The official said that the district would fall to the Taliban if reinforcements are not sent in soon.

A number of other security forces were also killed in the clashes.

According to local sources, nearly 45 government forces have disappeared. Sources also said that Gulbuddin and Lotf-ul-Haq were closel relatives and both lived in Julga district.

Meanwhile, Ghazni provincial council member Amanullah Kamran said a fierce battle was carried out in Deh Yak district on Friday night, resulting in the death of two Afghan National Army soldiers. Three others were wounded.

Provincial officials have not yet commented on this incident.