At least 15 members of the Afghan security forces have been killed in a gun battle with the Taliban in volatile southern Uruzgan province, an official said on Wednesday.
The fighting took place late Tuesday night during an operation to reopen an important highway in the province, said Mohammad Nabi Niazo, the Dihrawud district police chief. Taliban gunmen had blocked the highway between Dihrawud and the provincial capital, Tarin Kot, for almost four days, he said.
Following the deadly fire-fight, Afghan forces have retaken control of the road, Mr. Niazo added. Eight members of the security forces were wounded during the operation.
Mr. Niazo had no information of any insurgent casualties during the battle.
Spurt in Taliban attacks
The Taliban have in recent months stepped up their attacks in Uruzgan and neighbouring provinces in the south, including the Taliban heartland of Helmand where much of the world’s illicit opium is produced. The crop, along with other contraband, funds the insurgency, now in its fifteenth year.
