Afghan security force members stand near the site of Taliban attack in Khawja Omari district in Afghanistan's eastern Ghazni province on April 12, 2018. More than three dozen people including security personnel and militants have been confirmed dead as Taliban militants attacked Khawja Omari district on Thursday, deputy to provincial police, Ramazan Ali Mohsini said. (Xinhua/Sayed Mominzadah)
KABUL, April 12 (Xinhua) -- More than three dozen people including security personnel and militants have been confirmed dead as Taliban militants attacked Khawja Omari district in Afghanistan's eastern Ghazni province on Thursday, deputy to provincial police, Ramazan Ali Mohsini said.
"A group of Taliban rebels launched multi-pronged offensives on security checkpoints in Khawja Omari district at 03:00 a.m. local time today, triggering fierce fighting which lasted for hours during which the district governor of Khawja Omari and 11 more staff and security personnel unfortunately lost their lives," Mohsini told Xinhua.
The official, however, asserted that 27 militants had been killed and 13 others injured in the fighting.
Militants also burned parts of the district headquarters following rocket attacks, the official said, adding the situation has been brought under control and the militants have been evicted from the area.
Meanwhile, Zabihullah Majahid who claims to speak for the Taliban outfit, confirmed to the media about the clash. He claimed that the armed opposition group overrun Khawja Omari district early Thursday after killing 20 security personnel and district officials, including the district governor and police chief. It also lost seven fighters, he added.
However, Ghazni's police chief Mohammad Zaman rejected the claim, saying security personnel are in control of the situation and militants have fled the area.
Afghan observers predict that the Taliban group would increase activities in Spring ahead of a possible peace talk with the Afghan government for a strong position.
