10 soldiers, 8 militants killed in clashes in N. Afghanistan

At least 10 Afghan army soldiers and eight Taliban militants were killed during predawn clashes in Jurm district of the Afghanistan's northern Badakhshan province on Saturday, sources said.

"Taliban militants stormed Afghan National Defense and Security Forces' security checkpoints in different locations in Dara-e-Khostak locality of Jurm at wee hours of Saturday. The security forces repelled the attackers after heavy fighting," Abdullah Naji Nazari from provincial council told Xinhua.

At least five soldiers were wounded and several security force members went missing following the clashes lasting for hours, Nazari said, adding the number of casualties may rise.

In the meantime, the Afghan Defense Ministry confirmed the incident, saying the security forces had tactically retreated from four small security checkpoints in Jurm.

The ministry said in a statement that casualties were inflicted to security forces and Taliban militants, adding further details will be shared with media later in the day.

The mountainous Jurm district, in the southern part of provincial capital Faizabad city, has been the scene of heavy clashes for long as militants tried to overrun the strategic district.

Violence decreased in Afghanistan after a peace deal was signed between the United States and the Taliban in Doha of Qatar as well as a joint declaration issued by the U.S. side and the Afghan government in late February.

However, sporadic clashes and fighting occur in countryside as Taliban militants have been attempting to take territory and consolidate their positions.