TALUQAN, Afghanistan, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- A total of 18 fighters including eight police and 10 militants have been confirmed dead as clash erupted in Khawja Ghar district of the northern Takhar province on Thursday, district governor Mohammad Omar said.
"A group of Taliban insurgents attacked security checkpoints in Gortepa area of Khawja Ghar district at 02:00 a.m. local time today, triggering heavy gun battle which lasted for a few hours, and as a result 10 rebels and eight security personnel were killed," Omar told Xinhua.
Over a dozen militants and six security personnel were injured in the fighting, the official asserted.
Taliban militants who have adopted aggressive policy and are active in parts of the restive Takhar province have yet to make comments on the situation.
