26 Afghan police killed as army begins anti-Taliban drive

February 17, 2015 21:10

At least 20 Afghan policemen were killed today in a Taliban attack near Kabul, bringing to 26 the number of officers to die since the start of an army offensive aimed at weakening the insurgents.

The assault saw Taliban gunmen and suicide attackers strike police headquarters in Puli Alam city, south of Kabul. Provincial police chief Abdul Hakim Ishaqzai said that in addition to those killed, nine were wounded.

The attack came as police and troops, in their first major assault since US-led NATO forces ended their combat mission last December, began targeting militants yesterday in restive Helmand province, a hotbed of the Taliban insurgency

and a hub for drug trafficking.

The defence ministry said 76 insurgents were killed on Monday, the first day of the operation, which will also target militants in six districts in neighbouring Kandahar, Farah, and Uruzgan provinces.

The offensive is designed to hurt the Taliban before the start of the so-called "fighting season".

"This is a totally Afghan-planned and Afghan-led operation. It will continue until success is achieved," said General Abdul Khaliq, who commands the operation. The Taliban's spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

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