FAIZABAD, Afghanistan, June 13 (Xinhua) -- Up to 20 army soldiers were killed after militants stormed several security checkpoints in Jarm district of the northern Badakhshan province on Wednesday, head of provincial council Abdullah Naji Nazari said.
"Taliban rebels launched multi-pronged offensives on the checkpoints of army in Shakhwand area of Jarm district at 02:00 a.m. local time today, leaving 20 soldiers dead," Nazari told Xinhua.
He added that the attack which triggered a gun battle and lasted for a while, also left at least 10 insurgents killed.
Taliban militants who have intensified activities are yet to make comments on the report.
The deadly attack took place as a temporary unilateral seven-day ceasefire by the Afghan government with Taliban militants went into effect on Tuesday before end of Ramadan and the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday, but the Taliban outfit's continued attacks on government forces had claimed over a dozen lives and injured several security force members elsewhere in the country on Tuesday.
