Taliban kill 16 Afghan forces amid peace talks

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) – On the heels of the U.S.-Taliban peace talks, at least 16 Afghan security forces were killed Monday as insurgents continued to target the northern Kunduz province, an official confirmed.

Esmat Murady, spokesman for the provincial governor, told Anadolu Agency the Taliban staged a coordinated assault on security forces in Dasht-e-Archi district last night. He confirmed 10 security forces and eight Taliban insurgents were killed. Muradi claimed the situation is now under the control of the security forces.

Hours after this assault, a Taliban-claimed suicide attack in the provincial capital Kunduz killed at least six security forces and injured 21 others including 11 civilians, the local Salam Afghanistan radio reported.

Taliban and Afghan forces have engaged in fresh clashes amid ongoing talks and ahead of this month’s presidential elections, which the insurgents oppose.

On Sunday, the U.S. and Taliban announced to have concluded the latest round of marathon peace talks in Doha, Qatar.

"We are at the threshold of an agreement [with the Taliban]," Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. special envoy for peace in Afghanistan, said early Sunday morning as he left Doha for Kabul.

Nearly 200 people, mostly Taliban insurgents, security forces and civilians were killed in the past two days as the Afghan army repulsed the insurgents’ attacks in Baghlan and Kunduz provinces.