22 soldiers killed in Taliban attack on Afghan army camp

At least 22 Afghan army soldiers were killed in a massive Taliban attack on an army camp in western Farah province overnight, a local official said Saturday.

"Militants numbered hundreds attacked an army camp in Kanesk area of Bala Buluk district Friday night. The army soldiers fought back the attackers but some 22 soldiers lost their lives after the fighting," Naser Mehri, spokesman of the provincial government, told Xinhua.

Several militants were also killed and wounded during the gun battle, but their number could not be exactly specified as the militants evacuated their casualties, he said.

Additional forces were dispatched to the district after the clashes, he added.

Afghan army and police have repulsed Taliban multi-pronged attacks against the provincial capital Farah within the past months as the militants have been trying to capture the full control of the city and outer parts.

Violence has been on the rise as the Afghan security forces struggle against a surge in attacks by anti-government fighters since the drawdown of foreign forces within the past three years.

The Taliban militants have not made any comment about the report so far.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)