Afghan officials said Friday that Taliban fighters beheaded 15 civilians and torched some 60 homes in an assault in eastern province of Ghazni.
“Hundreds of Taliban fighters have stormed Ajristan district, killing and wounding more than 90 people and beheading 15 others,” said provincial deputy governor Mohammad Ali Ahmadi.
He said the people who were beheaded belonged to the families of security force personnel.
Ahmadi further said that if the district comes under Taliban control, four provinces will fall into Taliban hands.
“Currently, Afghan security forces have launched an air strike with the help of NATO in the district,” he said. “We are very hopeful to get the district back.
The assault on Ajristan occurred when the Taliban rejected the announcement of a new Afghan government on Monday, and vowed to “continue armed jihad” against it.
The unity government president, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, has said he will initiate talks with the Taliban, but the rebel forces seem less interested.
The Afghan Unity Government is facing several challenges, with security continuing to be a delicate issue. The insurgents have begun launching large-scale attacks with hundreds of fighters.
If a bilateral security agreement is not signed by the new government, NATO and the United States will withdraw their troops by the end of 2014.
GNA
