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Taliban Attack Kills 6 Afghan Army Men

Ayesha Tanzeem

   ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN - At least six members of Afghan National Army were
   killed, and five others wounded in a Taliban attack in Laghman province
   in eastern Afghanistan Sunday night, according to Afghan ministry of
   defense.

   However, a government source who did not want to be named said the
   number killed was 10 while seven were wounded, and local residents say
   11 ANA members were killed and nine wounded.

   The defense ministry statement said Afghan forces repulsed the attack
   in Alishing district and caused the Taliban heavy casualties, but the
   government source said at least 10 Afghan army Humvees were also
   destroyed in the attack.

   Locals say the army was putting up a new post in village. The Taliban
   attacked after the army had spent the night constructing the post and
   deploying new forces.

   Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed the attack in a statement
   to journalists.

   Meanwhile, the capital Kabul experienced at least six explosions, two
   Sunday night, without casualties, and four Monday morning.

   Ferduz Farmurz, a spokesman for the Kabul police, told journalists four
   civilians including a child were slightly wounded in the morning
   explosions.

   At least one of the morning explosions targeted an Afghan security
   forces convoy. The last explosion happened when security forces were
   already at the scene investigating.

   The violence happened days after a high-level United States team led by
   Zalmay Khalilzad, the man responsible for negotiating a deal with
   Taliban, toured the region and met both the Taliban in Doha and
   Pakistan's army chief in Islamabad to push for reduction in violence.

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