KABUL: Taliban militants killed at least 14 members of a pro-government militia in Afghanistan on Wednesday, said officials, as Taliban and US officials near a deal aimed at ending the 18-year war.

Government officials said 14 members of the militia were killed and several civilians were wounded during clashes in the western province of Herat.

Abdul Ahad Walizada, a spokesman for Herat police, said the 14 were killed after a large number of Taliban fighters stormed security checkpoints in the Chahardara area.

“At least nine others are wounded in the clashes and the Taliban militants were pushed back after Afghan forces reinforced the area,” said Walizada. Taliban officials were not immediately available for a comment.

US and Taliban officials are said to be nearing an agreement, after months of negotiations, under which the United States would start to withdraw troops from Afghanistan in exchange for Taliban pledges not to allow the country to be used by international militants plotting attacks abroad.

The Taliban on Wednesday said they are set to reach a “final agreement” with the United States to end 18 years of war in Afghanistan that began when they were ousted from power following the Sept 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

It is not clear if the agreement will include a ceasefire between the Taliban and forces of the US-backed government, or if the Taliban will promise to open power-sharing talks with the government.

The Taliban have refused to talk to the government, which they see as a US puppet.

Despite the talks between the Taliban and the United States, a senior Afghan interior ministry official said government forces along with thousands of pro-government militia members were battling the militants across at least 10 of the country’s 34 provinces. “The Taliban consider pro-government militia forces a big threat because they have strong intelligence networks, often both sides know each other’s families,” said a second senior security official in Kabul, requesting anonymity.

This week, Taliban fighters killed nine pro-government militia members, including a district commander, Baz Mohammad, in the Jawzjan province in the north, officials said.

The commander’s son is a member of the Taliban in the area, said a relative who is also a provincial council member. Eight Taliban fighters were also killed in the clashes.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2019