The Taliban has orchestrated a series of attacks killing at least 27 security officers and wounding dozens in northern Afghanistan.
Most of this violence was concentrated in the Sar-i-Pul Province where three attacks occurred killing 21 people. The Taliban have also attacked the centre of Sayad District, the village Qashqari, and security outposts along the highway linking Sar-i-Pul with Jowzjan. They were able to capture two of these outposts, wounding 25 security force members in their attack.
Zabihullah Amani, the spokesman for the governor of Sar-i-Pul noted however that they failed in their main goal. The Taliban had aimed to take over Qashqari to be in possession of their oil wells.
The Taliban were also able to launch an ambush against the police and intelligence chiefs who were called in for reinforcements. The reason for this ambush is unclear.
In the northern province of Balkh, attacks within the Chemtal District left six police officers dead. The Taliban were able to steal all the weapons and equipment in the security outpost they attacked.
This attack comes as the current US president, Donald J Trump, last month ordered a withdrawal of half of the 14,000 American troops stationed in Afghanistan.
Last week, the Taliban rejected the Afghan government's offer of peace talks in Saudi Arabia.
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