GHAZNI, Afghanistan, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Five policemen were killed and eight others wounded after Taliban militants attacked security checkpoints in Ghazni province in eastern Afghanistan Friday night, provincial police chief said Saturday.
"Over 100 armed militants attacked three police checkpoints in Dasht-e-Qarabagh locality overnight, sparking a heavy clash, which repelled by police forces. But the engagement left five police personnel dead and injured eight others," Gen. Mohammad Zaman told Xinhua.
The clash occurred along a main road connecting provincial capital Ghazni city to neighboring Jaghori district and the victims have already been transferred to their hometown in Jaghori.
One checkpoint was destroyed during the attack, the police chief said, adding that "several militants were also killed and wounded during the gun battle, but their number could not be exactly specified, as the militants evacuated their casualties after the fighting."
Militancy and counter-militancy traditionally gets momentum in spring and summer commonly known as fighting season in Afghanistan.
Local observers believe that the militants would intensify activities in summer to gain more territory and defame the government ahead of winter and snowfall in the mountainous country.
