Yesterday, 24 security personnel were killed in an attack carried out by armed men who infiltrated their forces and targeted their base in southern Afghanistan, while the fighting continues as efforts to resume talks with the Taliban are frozen.
The attack took place before dawn in Zabul Province, as Afghanistan faces several crises, including the Taliban escalation of violence, which has undermined a supposed peace process, the increasing incidence of new Coronavirus, and the political hostility that made President Ashraf Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah claim eligibility for the presidency.
The governor of Zabul Province, Rahmatullah Yirmal, said that a number of "infiltrators" opened fire on their comrades during their sleep, in an attack considered among the bloodiest since the United States last month signed an agreement with the "Taliban" stipulating the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan.
The pre-dawn attack, which lasted for an hour, targeted a joint police and army headquarters near Qalat, the state capital, which has long been considered a stronghold of the "Taliban".
Zabul Provincial Council Chairman Ata Jan Haqq Bayan said that "14 Afghan army soldiers and 10 police officers were killed" in the attack. He added that four other Afghan elements were missing.
A statement said, "The attackers were linked to the Taliban insurgents." The attackers escaped on Humvee by military vehicles, truck, weapons and ammunition.
The attack comes a day after Afghan Defense Minister Asadullah Khalid called the "Taliban" to abide by the ceasefire to facilitate dealing with the spread of the new Corona virus.
The attack was considered the bloodiest since the United States last month signed an agreement with the Taliban.