50 killed in Afghan fighting in 24 hours

More than 50 people with majority of them armed insurgents were killed over the past 24 hours in Afghanistan, following Washington's decision to pull out its forces from Afghanistan, reported Xinhua, quoting officials on Saturday.

In the latest wave of violent incidents, the Taliban militants attacked a security checkpoint outside Taluqan city, the capital of northern Takhar province early on Saturday, killing four pro-government militiamen and wounding five others, provincial police spokesman Abdul Khalil Asir confirmed.

In a tit-for tat reaction, the security forces attacked a Taliban group in Imam Sahib district in the neighboring Kunduz province hours later, leaving two insurgents dead and captured four others, a pro-government militia commander Mohammad Ismael told Xinhua.

U.S. President Joe Biden announced Wednesday to begin withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan from May 1 and the process will be completed on Sept. 11.

Afghan fighting planes targeted a gathering of Taliban militants in Khashrod district in western Nimroz province, killing 22 militants on Friday, according to a statement of the Defense Ministry.

Following the airstrikes, Units of Special Force stormed a Taliban detention center in the restive Khashrod district and rescued 20 security personnel including 17 army soldiers and three policemen, said an army statement released Saturday.

More than 20 militants were killed as the ground forces backed by helicopter gunships attacked Taliban hideouts in Qarabagh district in eastern Ghazni province over the past 24 hours, according to army sources.

According to security officials, four militants were killed in Balkh district in northern Balkh province and three policemen lost their lives in a car bomb in western Herat province since Friday.

Spokesman for the Defense Ministry Rohullah Ahmadzai has accused the Taliban of increasing violence, saying the armed outfit has stepped up attacks to gain ground but the government forces are capable enough to foil the attempts of the insurgents.

In the meantime, a Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in contact with media said that the United States should leave Afghanistan on May 1 as agreed in the Doha peace agreement inked in February last year, warning the violation of the accord could complicate the situation.