KABUL, March 16 (Xinhua) -- At least 19 soldiers and pro-government militiamen and several militants were killed in predawn Taliban's attacks in three Afghan provinces, authorities said Monday.
In one incident, six Afghan army commandos and five police officers were killed after scores of Taliban fighters stormed a security checkpoint along a main road in Shahrak district of western Ghor province, provincial Governor Ghulam Nasir Khaze told Xinhua.
Some 15 militants were also killed and 11 security force members and several militants were wounded during the clashes that erupted in the wee hours of Monday, he noted.
The militants set on fire two armored vehicles and hijacked one military vehicle after the clashes, according to Khaze.
In northern Kunduz province, five pro-government local militiamen and eight Taliban militants were killed and 18 people, including 14 militias and four civilians, were wounded after clashes broke out in Janatbagh locality of Khan Abad district, deputy district chief Qudratullah Safi told Xinhua.
Several checkpoints of pro-government tribal militia group, known as local uprising fighters, were damaged in the fighting lasting for hours.
Three Afghan Local Police (ALP) personnel and several Taliban militants were killed in a fighting in Darqad district of neighboring Takhar province, Abdul Khalil Asir from provincial police told Xinhua.
At least eight ALP members were also wounded, he said.
Violence decreased in Afghanistan after a peace deal was signed between the United States and the Taliban in Doha of Qatar as well as a joint declaration issued by the U.S. side and the Afghan government in late February.
However, sporadic clashes and fighting occur in countryside as Taliban militants have been attempting to take territory and consolidate their positions.
