Afghanistan: 21 Soldiers, Police Officers Killed, Others Taken Hostages In Renewed Taliban Violence

By Staff, Agencies

More than 20 Afghan soldiers and police officers were killed in northern Afghanistan overnight in the latest Taliban attack following the end of a week-long reduction of violence and signing of a so-called US-Taliban peace deal.

Two checkpoints were attacked outside the northern city of Kunduz.

Ensuing clashes between Afghan National Army [ANA] soldiers and Taliban militants killed 18 soldiers and 3 police officers.

10 soldiers were taken hostage by the Taliban, sources said.

Most of the clashes took place along highways between Kunduz and the town of Imam Shaheb, near the border with Kyrgyzstan, Sputnik reported.

Neither Afghanistan's defense ministry nor Kunduz officials have released any statement on the matter.

The Taliban agreed to observe a one-week reduction in violence before signing the February 29 peace agreement with the United States, which stipulates the eventual withdrawal of all US forces from the country.

After the signing, the Taliban stated that they would resume anti-government violence, in which they attacked an ANA military base in the Logar province, killing at least two soldiers.