Afghan officials said a multi-pronged Taliban attack on a district headquarters in northern Balkh province has killed at least 11 policemen.

Munir Ahmad Farhad, spokesman for the provincial governor, said the attack started early on Tuesday morning and triggered a gunbattle that is still underway around the Shortepa district headquarters.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the insurgents had overrun the district, a claim that Farhad denied. The spokesman said reinforcements were on their way to Shortepa.

Mohammad Afzel Hadid, head of the Balkh provincial council, said he feared the casualty toll could rise further unless reinforcements arrived promptly as the district is in a remote area.

Taliban attacks have continued unabated even as Afghanistan held presidential elections last week and US-Taliban talks over a peace deal collapsed last month.