HERAT: Taliban fighters killed as many as seven Afghan commandos in an hours-long attack on an army outpost, a lawmaker and the defence ministry said on Wednesday.

The assault comes as Kabul authorities accuse the insurgents of stepping up attacks against security forces in recent weeks, after violence dropped across much of the country following a three-day ceasefire announced in May.

The Taliban raided the army outpost located in northwest Badhis province late on Tuesday.

Badghis lawmaker Ziauddin Akazi said the insurgents attacked the Bala Murghab district outpost, triggering fierce fighting that lasted for about four hours.

“Most of those killed were members of commando and special forces,” Akazi said.

He said the attack came when a group of commandos and special forces travelled to the outpost from their base nearby.

The ministry of defence said seven security personnel were killed and five were wounded in the attack. It said security forces later repelled the Taliban attack.

The Taliban have not commented.

Six civilians killed

A roadside bombing killed at least six Afghan civilians traveling in a rickshaw in a northern province, an official said on Wednesday. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

According to the interior ministry spokesman, Tariq Arian, the bombing in Jawzjan province took place the previous evening when the rickshaw struck the roadside bomb in Mardyan district. One civilian was also wounded in the explosion.

Arian blamed Taliban insurgents for the attack. Afghanistan has seen a recent spike in violence, with most attacks claimed by the local affiliate of the militant Islamic State group.

In early June, IS claimed responsibility for a bombing at a mosque in Kabul that killed two people, including the prayer leader. Eight worshipers were wounded in that attack.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2020