KABUL, March 4 (Xinhua) -- More than 40 people including three civilians have been killed in Afghanistan in a single day on Monday as fighting got momentum in the insurgency-battered country, officials said.
In the latest waves of violent incidents, Taliban militants stormed the main bazaar of Yangi Qala district in the northern Takhar province Monday morning, killing three civilians and injuring seven others, a local official said on the condition of anonymity.
Provincial police spokesman Abdul Khalil Asir confirmed the attack but said only two civilians lost their lives and seven more injured after the Taliban offensive repulsed within hours.
Meanwhile, militants attacked a security checkpoint in neighboring Kunduz province's Imam Sahib district early Monday, killing 10 security personnel and injuring almost the same number, district governor Mahboubullah Sayedi reported.
According to Sayedi, Taliban fighters had also suffered.
Clash between security forces and the Taliban militants on a road linking Dawlat Abad district to Balkh district in the northern Balkh province early Monday claimed the lives of two security personnel and injured three others, deputy to provincial police chief Abdul Razaq Qadiri told Xinhua.
On the other hand, government forces' pressure on militants have been continuing as units of Special Forces stormed Taliban positions in Faizabad district of the northern Jawzjan province on Monday morning, killing 18 insurgents including group commander Mawlawi Zarif on the spot, army spokesman in the northern region MohammadHanif Rezai said.
Rezai also said that government forces in operations against militants in Dawlat Abad district of Jawzjan's neighboring Faryab province have killed 12 Taliban fighters since early Monday.
