Insider attack leaves nearly 40 Afghan security forces dead
(dpa)
Kabul - An insider attack in the western province of Farah on Thursday left at least 38 Afghan security forces, including at least 15 army soldiers and 20 policemen dead, officials said.
The attack took place inside a joint base that housed both army and police battalions in the Farah-Rod area of the province around 2:30 am on Thursday (2200 GMT Wednesday), provincial council member Khair Mohammad Noorzai told dpa.
Taliban spokesman Qari Yosouf Ahmadi said on Twitter the base was attacked by the militants, and around 80 weapons, together with several vehicles were captured by the group.
Noorzai said that although the governor, the chief of army for the province and the police chief have been replaced in the past month, the overall security situation of the western province won't change unless the strategy for the war changes.
Noorzai and two members of parliament from the province, Abdul Saboor Khedmat and Al-Haj Mohammad Sarwar Farahi, said that the Taliban had also launched attacks in several districts as well as the outskirts of Farah city, the capital of the province on Wednesday night.
All officials said that the situation in the province is very fragile and is getting worse.
Taliban militants have ramped up attacks on Afghan security forces and government facilities in recent months, leaving troops thinly stretched throughout the country.
Fighting with the Taliban was also raging on Monday in Farah, where at least 37 local policemen were killed.
Taliban spokesman Qari Yosouf Ahmadi said on Twitter the base was attacked by the militants, and around 80 weapons, together with several vehicles were captured by the group.
Noorzai said that although the governor, the chief of army for the province and the police chief have been replaced in the past month, the overall security situation of the western province won't change unless the strategy for the war changes.
Noorzai and two members of parliament from the province, Abdul Saboor Khedmat and Al-Haj Mohammad Sarwar Farahi, said that the Taliban had also launched attacks in several districts as well as the outskirts of Farah city, the capital of the province on Wednesday night.
All officials said that the situation in the province is very fragile and is getting worse.
Taliban militants have ramped up attacks on Afghan security forces and government facilities in recent months, leaving troops thinly stretched throughout the country.
Fighting with the Taliban was also raging on Monday in Farah, where at least 37 local policemen were killed.