Taliban militants killed 28 Afghan soldiers in a number of coordinated assaults across the country one day ahead of the continuation of peace talks in Qatar, Anadolu reported on Saturday. Citing the Afghan military spokesman, the media outlet asserted that at least 20 Taliban fighters were also killed in three separate actions targeting state security forces.
Local media report that the number of casualties among the Afghan army members was higher and so, for instance, first news from the attack conducted on Shorab base numbered dozens more of dead and injured.
The attacks commenced one day before the next round of the United States-Taliban peace talks in Doha. US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad earlier praised "significant progress" made in the talks with the Taliban. The spokesperson of the Islamic militant group, Zabihullah Mujahid, tweeted that the operations against Afghan soldiers are currently in progress, not mentioning the peace process.
