At least 30 security personnel and 20 Taliban insurgents have been killed as a result of coordinated militant attack in southern Helmand province, sources said on Saturday.
The attack, involving a dozen Taliban militants, began at midnight on the Maiwand Military Corps’ Shorabak base near Lashkargha, the provincial capital.
A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Pajhwok Afghan News around 30 security men were killed in the overnight assault.
But, Omar Zwak, the governor’s spokesman, said only five security personnel were killed and 12 others wounded. Twenty rebels were also killed and several others wounded, he added.
He said a search operation was currently underway in the area. Most of the area had been cleared of insurgents, the spokesman added.
Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi said clashes between the group and security forces were underway and helicopter workshops had been torched.
Ahmadi claimed around 200 security personnel had been killed so far. However, he did not provide information about rebel casualties.