KABUL, Afghanistan
Afghan officials confirmed that 61 Taliban militants and 11 policemen had been killed on Thursday in ongoing gunfight with security forces, as Taliban fought to regain control of its lost territories in the restive Helmand province.
Early Thursday morning, militants hit barriers at the security ring in Girishk district, with two explosive-laden armored vehicles.
Abdul Salam, spokesperson for the provincial police, said one policeman was killed and five others were injured in the attack.
“A third bombing was prevented by the security forces. Fresh ground and air forces have been dispatched to the area to quell the attack,” he added.
This is the first time the militants have used armored vehicles -- which were snatched from the security forces during previous clashes -- for suicide attack in Afghanistan.
Clashes also broke down in the nearby Garmseer district.
Abdul Rauf, police chief for the district, said that Afghan forces are engaged in gunfight with militants who coordinated the attacks.
He said 10 security officials had been killed while three had been injured in the attacks.
Security forces had gunned down 43 Taliban militants, he added.
Umar Zwak, spokesman for the provincial governor, has confirmed that six members of the Afghan forces had been injured, while 18 Taliban attackers had been killed.
The Taliban however claimed in a statement that 30 policemen had been killed, while a military base and many check posts had been overrun.
Earlier this week, Afghan forces backed by U.S. airpower managed to reclaim the restive Nawa district in Helmand, a year after Taliban had entirely taken up its control.
Lying south to the Taliban’s birthplace Kandahar, Helmand remains one of the most insecure provinces in Afghanistan with militants controlling large swaths of land.
