18 Taliban militants, 2 policemen killed in Afghanistan

At least 18 Taliban militants and two policemen were killed when insurgents attacked a police checkpoint in northern Afghanistan, police said on Saturday.

“A group of Taliban militants attacked a police checkpoint at 12.30 a.m. in Qala-e-Zal district, but faced strong resistance from the police, in which 18 of the attackers were killed and 11 others injured,” Sayed Sarwar Hosseini, police spokesman for Kunduz province said.

The dead included two members of the local police, three Taliban commanders and a foreign national, he said. Additionally, a national police member was injured during the gun battle, though Mr. Hosseini did not clarify whether it was a national or local police checkpoint.

“We have seized a large number of their weapons and ammunition left in the battlefield,” he said.

Meanwhile, a NATO soldier was killed in an insurgent attack in southern Afghanistan.

“An International Security Assistance Force service member died following an enemy of Afghanistan attack in southern Afghanistan today,” the international military said in a statement.