Winter in Afghanistan usually leads to a lull in fighting, but the Taliban have kept up attacks on remote security posts (WAKIL KOHSAR)
<p>Mazar-i-Sharif (Afghanistan) (AFP) – At least 23 Afghan security forces were killed in a series of Taliban attacks across the country, officials said Wednesday, despite winter snowfall that usually leads to a lull in violence.</p><p>The assaults targeted vulnerable checkpoints in at least three northern provinces.</p><p>In Balkh, militants stormed a checkpoint early Wednesday and killed at least seven policemen, according to provincial police chief Ajmal Fayez.</p><p>He said reinforcements had been dispatched to the post, which is located on the strategic highway connecting Balkh to neighbouring Jawezjan province.</p><p>A Taliban spokesman claimed 11 policemen died in the attack, but Afzal Hadid — a member of the provincial council — put the death toll at nine, adding four others were missing.</p><p>"We are not sure whether these four police helped the Taliban in the attack or have been captured by them," he said.</p><p>Separate assaults by the Taliban killed at least nine members of Afghan security forces in northeastern Kunduz, and seven in neighbouring Takhar province, officials said.</p><p>The provincial spokesman for Takhar said that at least 11 militants were killed as they attacked a security checkpoint in Darqad, close to the border with Tajikistan.</p><p></p>

Disclaimer: Validity of the above story is for 7 Days from original date of publishing. Source: AFP.