Taliban kill 8 policemen in western Afghanistan attack

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan

Taliban killed eight policemen in western Farah province bordering Iran late Sunday night, according to a provincial official and the militant group Monday.

Farah governor’s spokesman Nasir Mehri told Anadolu Agency police checkpoints in Regi area on the outskirts of provincial capital Farah City came under attack at around 2 a.m. Monday morning (2130 GMT Sunday).

Mehri also said the assailants took away arms and ammunition from the scene.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah took responsibility, claiming that 13 security personnel had been killed in the coordinated attacks on the checkpoints.

The relatively-peaceful Farah province is witnessing a surge in such attacks.

Senior provincial officials, including chairman of the provincial assembly Jamil Amini, has repeatedly blamed Iran for equipping and supporting the Taliban in the Afghan province, a claim rejected by Tehran.