1st LD Writethru: 6 police killed in checkpoint attack in N. Afghanistan

A total of six police personnel and eight militants were killed in an armed clash in northern Afghanistan's Kunduz province overnight Monday, police said on Tuesday.

"Unknown number of militants attacked security checkpoints in Sarak-e-Bala area of Chardara district midnight, triggering a six- hour clash. The exchange of fire left six policemen and eight Taliban killed," district police Chief Colonel Noorullah told Xinhua.

Several militants and two police were wounded as a result of the clash in the province, the police chief said, adding that "a pursuit operation was now launched against the fleeing rebels following the attack."

The province, bordering Tajikistan, has been the scene of heavy fighting earlier this year as security forces have repelled militants, who tried to take control of several districts near the provincial capital Kunduz city, 250 km north of Afghan capital.

The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since April 24 when the militant group launched its so-called annual spring offensive in different places of the militancy-plagued Afghanistan which had claimed hundreds of lives including militants, security personnel and civilians.

The Afghan soldiers and police casualties have risen recently as the United States and NATO troops in Afghanistan have switched from combat to support role, namely training, advising and assisting Afghan forces since Jan. 1 this year. Endi