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Taliban Kills 21 Afghan Troops, Warns of 'Dangerous Escalation' if US
Breaches Deal

Ayaz Gul

   ISLAMABAD - Taliban insurgents have killed at least 21 government
   troops in new attacks in Afghanistan as U.S.-brokered peace talks
   between the two warring sides remain stalled.

   The fighting comes as the United States is reviewing a February 2020
   agreement with the Taliban, which required remaining American and
   allied forces to leave Afghanistan by May of this year.

   An Afghan security officer said Friday that a major pre-dawn Taliban
   raid targeted in an outpost in Khan Abad district in northeastern
   Kunduz province. The officer, who spoke to VOA on condition of
   anonymity, said the attack killed 16 security force members, including
   their commander, and assailants also took two others hostage.

   Separately, insurgents stormed an Afghan army outpost in northern
   Faryab province Thursday night, killing five soldiers. The provincial
   governor told local TOLO television channel the Taliban also took "some
   soldiers" hostage.

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