A series of violent clashes between Afghan police and Taliban militants have claimed the lives of at least 13 people in troubled northern Afghanistan, local authorities say.

The casualties caused after a group of heavily armed Taliban militants stormed a police outpost in northern Samangan Province.

Khairullah Anosh, the provincial governor, said during a press briefing that at least five Afghan police officers and eight Taliban militants had been killed in the ensuing fighting.

He also noted that the fierce clashes started on late Saturday and lasted till 2 a.m. local time Sunday night.

“A group of insurgents ambushed Posta-e-Khaki outposts at 10 p.m. (1830GMT) which is located between provincial capital, Aybak and Darah Sof district,” media outlets quoted Anosh as saying.

Meanwhile, Taliban militant group spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has claimed that at least six police officers were killed as militants seized the post in the trouble region.

However, Afghan authorities say the police have repelled the militant attack by pushing back the Taliban in the area.  

In a separate development, Afghan Security forces have managed to seize a large amount of arms and ammunition from the militants in eastern Khost Province, which borders Pakistan.

Mohammad Zaman Adil, a senior provincial official said on Monday that the cache was seized from militants’ hideouts during a security raid conducted in Spina Pyala area of Alishir District.

Taliban militants have stepped up violent attacks on foreign and government targets since they announced the start of their annual spring offensive in late April.

Several Afghan provinces are still facing militant threats more than 13 years after the US-led NATO troops invaded the country in 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror.

The offensive by the United States and its NATO allies removed Taliban from power, but several regions in the country are still experiencing mayhem and violence.

At least 13,500 foreign forces have remained in Afghanistan despite the end of the US-led combat mission, which came on December 31, 2014.

JR/NN/HMV