Fighting in Afghanistan intensifies as gov't, Taliban set to hold talks within weeks

Fighting in Afghanistan has intensified as scores have been killed over the past two days as the government and the Taliban outfit are reportedly getting ready to hold peace talks within weeks in Qatar.

In the latest deadly incidents, the Taliban militants stormed a police checkpoint in Solanak area of Nijrab district, eastern Kapisa province early on Monday, killing two policemen and wounding another, provincial police spokesman Shaeq Shurash said.

According to the official, the militants who staged the attack fled away after suffering casualties.

Nearly three dozen militants have been killed elsewhere in the militancy-battered country over the past 24 hours, according to security officials.

However, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, in a counter-claim, has rebuffed the claims, saying the militants in self-defense actions have killed dozens of security personnel over the period.

Since the warring sides in Afghanistan often exaggerate the casualties of the opponents, it is difficult to verify with independent sources.

Meanwhile, Javid Faisal, spokesman for the Afghan government's National Security Council, has accused the Taliban group of intensifying military activities to initiate intra-Afghan peace talks.

"The Taliban carried out 422 attacks in the past week in 32 provinces, killing 291 security forces and wounding 550 others. It was the deadliest week in 19 years," a local media outlet 1TV on Monday quoted Faisal as saying.

The Taliban outfit demanding the release of 5,000 prisoners from government jails as a precondition for talks has claimed that the armed group has already reduced violence to pave the way for peace dialogue.

The Afghan government has reportedly set free more than 3,600 Taliban detainees and the Taliban outfit released nearly 500 Afghan forces.

Exchange of 5,000 Taliban prisoners with 1,000 Afghan troopers is part of the U.S.-Taliban peace deal inked in Doha on February 29 to facilitate the intra-Afghan dialogue and pave the way for the pullout of the U.S.-led foreign forces from Afghanistan.

Afghan observer Nazari Pariani believes that the Taliban, like in past years, would intensify their attacks when the weather gets warm in spring and summer, known as the fighting season among Afghans to gain ground and enter the expected peace talks from strong position.

(CGTN)