Insurgents attacked a security checkpoint in western Afghanistan early Wednesday, killing at least 10 security personnel, officials said.

No one immediately claimed the attack, but a series of assaults by the Taliban in Farah province over the past week have killed at least 38 security forces, while another five were captured and several were wounded.

Abdul Samad Salehi, a member of the Farah provincial council, said four of those killed in Wednesday's attack were from the intelligence service and six were police.

“We have asked the central government for additional troops before Farah city falls into the hands of the Taliban,” Salehi said. He said security forces are battling the Taliban on three different fronts, and the insurgents have launched several attacks on checkpoints around the provincial capital.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, a suicide truck bomb struck a checkpoint in the southern Helmand province, killing at least two border police, according to Gen Abdul Ghafar Safi, the police chief of the province, which borders Pakistan. He said another three policemen were wounded in the blast. The Taliban claimed the attack.

The Taliban have seized a number of districts across the country in recent years, expanding their footprint after US and Nato forces formally concluded their combat mission at the end of 2014.

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...