KABUL, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least 23 Afghan soldiers and 31 militants were killed and several fighters wounded in separate clashes in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar and western Badghis provinces during Wednesday night, as peace efforts being made, provincial officials confirmed on Thursday.
In Nangarhar province, 20 soldiers and 29 militants were killed and 15 security forces and 20 militants were wounded when security forces repelled militants' attacks in Khogiani, Shirzad and Hesarak districts, provincial government spokesman Attaullah Khogiani told Xinhua.
The clashes took place after Taliban militants stormed security checkpoint during the night in the region, 120 km east of Kabul, the official added.
In western Badghis province, three soldiers and two militants were killed and six soldiers, two civilians and five militants wounded when security forces fought back attackers who stormed district offices in Qadis district.
"Parts of district administrative office building and an armored military vehicle caught fire after security force members forced back militants who tried to overran the offices," district chief Haidar Sharifi told Xinhua.
Taliban militants claimed that their fighters inflicted casualties on security forces in Badghis, but they did not give information on fightings in Nangarhar.
The clashes came as peace talks between a government delegation and Taliban representatives were underway in Doha, capital of Qatar. Enditem
