As the Taliban makes further inroads, reports say the militant group has surrounded <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-taliban-attack-on-ghazni-repelled-say-police-397405">Ghazni</a> city in central Afghanistan.

On Sunday, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-pullout-an-end-to-us-forever-wars-397481">Afghan</a> authorities had said they had installed anti-missile system at Kabul airport to guard against the Taliban's incoming rocket attack even as Tukey declared it will provide security to&nbsp;Kabul airport once US and NATO troops leave in August.

The Taliban has made rapid headway in the northern areas in the past month as the US troops have pulled out of the country and handed vital installations to Afghan troops.

Watch:

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Reports say heavy fighting is continuing between Afghan troops and the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-pilots-assassinated-by-taliban-as-us-withdraws-397318">Taliban</a> in Kandahar. The Afghan troops had earlier repelled a Taliban attack on Taluqan along the Tajikistan border even as it entered the capital of the western province of Badghis.

Australia's defence minister Peter Dutton said most troops had pulled out of Afghanistan. The country had deployed 39,000 troops as part of US and NATO-led operations in the past 20 years.

Taliban militants had earlier captured two key border crossings in western <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-govt-to-rush-troops-to-border-to-tackle-taliban-397247">Afghanistan </a>as areas along the Iranian border and Chinese border came under the spotlight.

The Taliban said it had seized Islam Qala along the Iran border and Torghundi crossing with Turkmenistan. Clashes were also reported in Kunduz as Afghan soldiers claimed the Taliban had suffered casualties.

Last week the Taliban claimed it controlled 85 per cent of the country. President Joe Biden had said the US troops will completely pull out of the country by August 31, asserting that his administration "will not send another generation of Americans to war in Afghanistan."

(With inputs from Agencies)

As the Taliban makes further inroads, reports say the militant group has surrounded Ghazni city in central Afghanistan. On Sunday, Afghan authorities had said they had installed anti-missile system at Kabul airport to guard against the Taliban's incoming rocket attack even as Tukey declared it will provide security to Kabul airport once US and NATO troops leave in August.

As the Taliban makes further inroads, reports say the militant group has surrounded Ghazni city in central Afghanistan. On Sunday, Afghan authorities had said they had installed anti-missile system at Kabul airport to guard against the Taliban's incoming rocket attack even as Tukey declared it will provide security to Kabul airport once US and NATO troops leave in August. The Taliban has made rapid headway in the northern areas in the past month as the US troops have pulled out of the country and handed vital installations to Afghan troops. Watch: Reports say heavy fighting is continuing between Afghan troops and the Taliban in Kandahar. The Afghan troops had earlier repelled a Taliban attack on Taluqan along the Tajikistan border even as it entered the capital of the western province of Badghis. Australia's defence minister Peter Dutton said most troops had pulled out of Afghanistan. The country had deployed 39,000 troops as part of US and NATO-led operations in the past 20 years. Taliban militants had earlier captured two key border crossings in western Afghanistan as areas along the Iranian border and Chinese border came under the spotlight. The Taliban said it had seized Islam Qala along the Iran border and Torghundi crossing with Turkmenistan. Clashes were also reported in Kunduz as Afghan soldiers claimed the Taliban had suffered casualties. Last week the Taliban claimed it controlled 85 per cent of the country. President Joe Biden had said the US troops will completely pull out of the country by August 31, asserting that his administration "will not send another generation of Americans to war in Afghanistan." (With inputs from Agencies)

Taliban surround Ghazni amid fighting with Afghan troops

Afghanistan forces have killed the Taliban mastermind of yesterday's attack in which at least 30 security personnel died, officials said on Monday.&nbsp;

Hamza Waziristani died in an overnight air strike in the eastern province of Ghazni.

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"The mastermind behind yesterday's terrorist attack on the (Ghazni) base was killed along with seven other terrorists," a statement by the defence ministry said, reports news agency AFP.&nbsp;

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Ministry spokesman Fawad Aman told that Waziristani was a Taliban terrorist from the border region of Waziristan in Pakistan.&nbsp;

The response from Afghan forces came after Sunday's suicide attack in Ghazni in which the attacker detonated a vehicle full of explosives.

No group has claimed responsibility for the deadly bombing.&nbsp;

The attack in Ghazni was one of the deadliest in months targetting government forces and comes amid a surge in violence since the beginning of peace talks between Afghanistan snd Taliban in Qatar.&nbsp;

Violent incidents have also escalated in capital Kabul recently, with over 50 people killed in two assaults on educational institutions and a rocket attack.&nbsp;

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for three Kabul attacks, but Afghan officials blamed the Taliban, who rejected such claims.&nbsp;

Afghanistan forces have killed the Taliban mastermind of yesterday's attack in which at least 30 security personnel died, officials said on Monday. Hamza Waziristani died in an overnight air strike in the eastern province of Ghazni.

Afghanistan forces have killed the Taliban mastermind of yesterday's attack in which at least 30 security personnel died, officials said on Monday. Hamza Waziristani died in an overnight air strike in the eastern province of Ghazni. Also read | Australia demands apology from China for ‘repugnant’ Afghan tweet "The mastermind behind yesterday's terrorist attack on the (Ghazni) base was killed along with seven other terrorists," a statement by the defence ministry said, reports news agency AFP. Also read | Car bombing in Afghanistan kills 30 security personnel Ministry spokesman Fawad Aman told that Waziristani was a Taliban terrorist from the border region of Waziristan in Pakistan. The response from Afghan forces came after Sunday's suicide attack in Ghazni in which the attacker detonated a vehicle full of explosives. No group has claimed responsibility for the deadly bombing. The attack in Ghazni was one of the deadliest in months targetting government forces and comes amid a surge in violence since the beginning of peace talks between Afghanistan snd Taliban in Qatar. Violent incidents have also escalated in capital Kabul recently, with over 50 people killed in two assaults on educational institutions and a rocket attack. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for three Kabul attacks, but Afghan officials blamed the Taliban, who rejected such claims.

Afghan forces kill Taliban mastermind of Ghazni attack

A suicide car bomber struck an army base in Afghanistan on Sunday, killing at least 26 security personnel, officials said, in one of the bloodiest attacks targeting Afghan forces in recent months. The attack occurred in the eastern province of Ghazni, which has seen regular fighting between the Taliban and government forces.

News Alert: Suicide car bomb kills 26 Afghan security personnel: AFP officials

Forty-three residents of Khwaja Omri district in the southern Afghan province of Ghazni, who were abducted by the Taliban two days ago, have been released following mediation by tribal elders, the provincial governor`s office said on Sunday.

Last month, at least six media persons, working for private and government media organisations here, were abducted by the Taliban in Zurmat district in the eastern Afghan province of Paktia.

Quoting sources, Tolo News reported that the journalists, working for radio and TV news companies that broadcast news in Pashto and Dari languages, were abducted while travelling to Paktia to attend a media workshop on Friday.

The terror group has reportedly claimed that it kidnapped the journalists "mistakenly" and promised to release them soon.

The incidents have come at a time when US President Donald Trump called off peace negotiations with the Taliban after the group claimed responsibility for the Kabul car bombing which killed 12 people, including an American soldier.

US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad met Taliban leader in Pakistan this week.

Regarding the meeting on Thursday that lasted for more than an hour, Kabul has said that talks in Islamabad between a Taliban delegation and Pakistani authorities were about the release of two hostages and not on the resumption of the peace process, Tolo News reported.&nbsp;

Forty-three residents of Khwaja Omri district in the southern Afghan province of Ghazni, who were abducted by the Taliban two days ago, have been released following mediation by tribal elders, the provincial governor`s office said on Sunday.

Forty-three residents of Khwaja Omri district in the southern Afghan province of Ghazni, who were abducted by the Taliban two days ago, have been released following mediation by tribal elders, the provincial governor`s office said on Sunday. Last month, at least six media persons, working for private and government media organisations here, were abducted by the Taliban in Zurmat district in the eastern Afghan province of Paktia. Quoting sources, Tolo News reported that the journalists, working for radio and TV news companies that broadcast news in Pashto and Dari languages, were abducted while travelling to Paktia to attend a media workshop on Friday. The terror group has reportedly claimed that it kidnapped the journalists "mistakenly" and promised to release them soon. The incidents have come at a time when US President Donald Trump called off peace negotiations with the Taliban after the group claimed responsibility for the Kabul car bombing which killed 12 people, including an American soldier. US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad met Taliban leader in Pakistan this week. Regarding the meeting on Thursday that lasted for more than an hour, Kabul has said that talks in Islamabad between a Taliban delegation and Pakistani authorities were about the release of two hostages and not on the resumption of the peace process, Tolo News reported.

43 residents of Ghazni, taken hostage by Taliban, released

A Taliban car bomb in eastern Afghanistan killed at least five people and wounded scores more Sunday, Afghan officials said, in a blast that came amid <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/dozens-of-powerful-afghans-including-bitter-rivals-to-meet-taliban-today-233700">ongoing peace talks in Qatar</a>.

The Taliban are meeting with US negotiators and Afghan representatives in Doha as the US pushes to end its 18-year involvement in Afghanistan, but violence from the insurgents and the US military has continued apace.

Sunday's suicide attack hit the eastern city of Ghazni and targeted an intelligence unit, Ghazni provincial governor spokesman Aref Noori told AFP.

He put the death toll at six, including two military personnel and four civilians.

Baz Mohammad Hemmat, the head of a Ghazni private hospital, said five were dead and 70 others wounded.

The Taliban claimed the attack in a WhatsApp message.

The seventh round of Taliban-US talks is aimed at forging a deal that would see the US military quit Afghanistan in return for various guarantees.&nbsp;

Both sides have reported substantial progress in the talks, which are paused Sunday and Monday while the Taliban meet with Afghan representatives for a so-called intra-Afghan dialogue.

A Taliban car bomb in eastern Afghanistan killed at least five people and wounded scores more Sunday, Afghan officials said, in a blast that came amid ongoing peace talks in Qatar.

A Taliban car bomb in eastern Afghanistan killed at least five people and wounded scores more Sunday, Afghan officials said, in a blast that came amid ongoing peace talks in Qatar. The Taliban are meeting with US negotiators and Afghan representatives in Doha as the US pushes to end its 18-year involvement in Afghanistan, but violence from the insurgents and the US military has continued apace. Sunday's suicide attack hit the eastern city of Ghazni and targeted an intelligence unit, Ghazni provincial governor spokesman Aref Noori told AFP. He put the death toll at six, including two military personnel and four civilians. Baz Mohammad Hemmat, the head of a Ghazni private hospital, said five were dead and 70 others wounded. The Taliban claimed the attack in a WhatsApp message. The seventh round of Taliban-US talks is aimed at forging a deal that would see the US military quit Afghanistan in return for various guarantees. Both sides have reported substantial progress in the talks, which are paused Sunday and Monday while the Taliban meet with Afghan representatives for a so-called intra-Afghan dialogue.

Afghanistan: Suicide blast kills at least 5 in Ghazni; Taliban claims responsibility

Taliban fighters have stepped up pressure on Afghan forces in the western province of Badghis, killing 20 soldiers and capturing 20, an official said on Tuesday, as the militants make advances even as they hold peace talks with US officials.

A large number of Taliban insurgents launched attacks on several army posts in the province's Bala Murghab district, beginning on Saturday night, said Qais Mangal, spokesman for the defence ministry in Kabul.

"The fighting is still on," Mangal said, adding that the Taliban had overrun four posts and government reinforcement backed by air support had been sent to prevent the whole area from falling to the insurgents.

A member of the Badghis provincial council, Abdul Aziz Beg, said 20 soldiers had been killed, 10 wounded and 20 captured by the hardline Islamist group.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attacks in Badghis, which is on the border with Turkmenistan.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi said 20 soldiers had been killed, 28 captured and a large supply of weapons and ammunition seized.

The Taliban, ousted in 2001, say they are fighting to expel foreign troops, topple the Western-backed Afghan government and restore their version of Islamic law.

Talks with US officials to end the war continued on Tuesday in Qatar, with the focus on the withdrawal of foreign troops, a guarantee Afghanistan will not be used as a springboard for militant attacks and a ceasefire.

The Taliban have refused to talk to Afghan government officials, labelling them a puppet of the United States.

Southeast of the Afghan capital, Kabul, in Ghazni city, an air strike on a vehicle killed seven Taliban on Tuesday, including a commander, said Mohammad Arif Noori, spokesman for Ghazni's provincial governor. He said the strike happened close to a mosque and may have left civilian casualties.

Dr. Zaher Shah Nekmal, health director for Ghazni province, said he had received a report of 16 dead but had not yet received the bodies.

In a statement, the Taliban said one air strike hit a minibus and a second followed quickly, killing a total of 12 people and wounding six.

A NATO spokesperson could not be immediately reached for comment.

As many as 200 people were accompanying tractors that pulled a number of bodies on trailers to the provincial governor's compound, said Waris Naimi, a spokesman for the Ghazni police, adding that police were trying to block the protest.

As the snow begins to melt, Taliban and Afghan security forces have stepped up attacks on each other but the extent of government losses is a major concern.

In January, President Ashraf Ghani, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, said 45,000 members of the security forces had been killed since he took office in September 2014.

Some 14,000 US troops are based in Afghanistan as part of a US-led NATO mission to train, assist and advise Afghan forces. Some US forces also carry out counter-terrorism operations.

Taliban fighters have stepped up pressure on Afghan forces in the western province of Badghis, killing 20 soldiers and capturing 20, an official said on Tuesday, as the militants make advances even as they hold peace talks with US officials.

Taliban fighters have stepped up pressure on Afghan forces in the western province of Badghis, killing 20 soldiers and capturing 20, an official said on Tuesday, as the militants make advances even as they hold peace talks with US officials. A large number of Taliban insurgents launched attacks on several army posts in the province's Bala Murghab district, beginning on Saturday night, said Qais Mangal, spokesman for the defence ministry in Kabul. "The fighting is still on," Mangal said, adding that the Taliban had overrun four posts and government reinforcement backed by air support had been sent to prevent the whole area from falling to the insurgents. A member of the Badghis provincial council, Abdul Aziz Beg, said 20 soldiers had been killed, 10 wounded and 20 captured by the hardline Islamist group. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attacks in Badghis, which is on the border with Turkmenistan. Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi said 20 soldiers had been killed, 28 captured and a large supply of weapons and ammunition seized. The Taliban, ousted in 2001, say they are fighting to expel foreign troops, topple the Western-backed Afghan government and restore their version of Islamic law. Talks with US officials to end the war continued on Tuesday in Qatar, with the focus on the withdrawal of foreign troops, a guarantee Afghanistan will not be used as a springboard for militant attacks and a ceasefire. The Taliban have refused to talk to Afghan government officials, labelling them a puppet of the United States. Southeast of the Afghan capital, Kabul, in Ghazni city, an air strike on a vehicle killed seven Taliban on Tuesday, including a commander, said Mohammad Arif Noori, spokesman for Ghazni's provincial governor. He said the strike happened close to a mosque and may have left civilian casualties. Dr. Zaher Shah Nekmal, health director for Ghazni province, said he had received a report of 16 dead but had not yet received the bodies. In a statement, the Taliban said one air strike hit a minibus and a second followed quickly, killing a total of 12 people and wounding six. A NATO spokesperson could not be immediately reached for comment. As many as 200 people were accompanying tractors that pulled a number of bodies on trailers to the provincial governor's compound, said Waris Naimi, a spokesman for the Ghazni police, adding that police were trying to block the protest. As the snow begins to melt, Taliban and Afghan security forces have stepped up attacks on each other but the extent of government losses is a major concern. In January, President Ashraf Ghani, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, said 45,000 members of the security forces had been killed since he took office in September 2014. Some 14,000 US troops are based in Afghanistan as part of a US-led NATO mission to train, assist and advise Afghan forces. Some US forces also carry out counter-terrorism operations.

Taliban pile pressure on government forces in western Afghanistan

Afghan surgeon Hedayatullah Hedayat has treated thousands of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/us-troop-withdrawal-from-afghanistan-its-effects-on-india-199574">civilians wounded in conflict</a> over the past 15 years -- victims of attacks from shootings to bomb blast -- but he never gets used to the horrors of war.

"It's not normal," said Hedayat, 42, who works at a trauma hospital in Kabul run by Italian charity Emergency, where the wards are filled with casualties, many wearing splints, casts and bandages.

"Each case of trauma for me is new, a new hurt, a new wound on the soul. Psychologically it's a trauma," he added.

In 2018 a record 10,993 civilians were wounded or killed in Afghanistan, according to UN figures released Sunday.

Many of them were rushed to Emergency's basic but clean 120-bed facility in the heart of the Afghan capital, which focuses on providing urgent treatment to victims of war.

Inside the hospital, two boys lie on adjacent beds under light-green blankets, one with a broken arm, the other on a drip, as winter light streams into the room from the snow-covered grounds outside.

Meanwhile, the highly trained Afghan and foreign medical staff prepare to change the dressing on a leg wound, and a meal of rice, soup, and an apple is served to the inpatients.

Of last year's civilian casualties, 3,804 died and 7,189 were wounded -- the highest UN tally since it began keeping records in 2009 and including 927 children, a &nbsp;record for a single year.

It underscores how regular Afghans continue to pay a disproportionate price in the deteriorating security situation, as the US begins fresh talks with the Taliban in Qatar this week seeking an end to the conflict.

The doctors at Emergency are in a constant state of readiness for the next suicide attack or roadside bombing.

Since 2014, when NATO combat troops pulled out of the country, "every year the number of patients and the severity of the casualties are increasing day by day", Hedayat said recently.&nbsp;

A record 4,076 people were admitted to the Kabul hospital in 2018 -- 530 more than the previous year, said Dejan Panic, program coordinator for Emergency in Afghanistan, which also operates two other hospitals as well as dozens of health clinics around the country.

"That was the busiest so far," Panic said.

Hoping for 'normal life'

Ordinary Afghans have long borne the brunt of the fighting in Afghanistan, which by some estimates is now the world's deadliest conflict zone.

Most were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Thirteen-year-old Samiul Haq was planting onions with his father and brothers a few hours drive from Kabul when he was shot three times in a skirmish between Taliban militants and Afghan forces.

One of the bullets sliced off his left index and middle fingers, leaving the schoolboy with a permanent reminder of the 17-year war.

"I got hit three times -- once in the fingers, once in the elbow and once in the leg," Samiul Haq told AFP as he prepared to leave Emergency's facility.&nbsp;

Abdul Salaam Stanekzai, 67, was walking home from a Koran recitation ceremony in the eastern province of Logar when a magnetic bomb attached to a passing vehicle exploded, spraying shrapnel into his arm and leg.&nbsp;

One person was killed and three others were wounded in the blast, Stanekzai said, as he sat in his hospital-issue pyjamas in a men-only ward overlooking the garden.&nbsp;

Some do not even have to leave their own home to become a statistic of the long-running conflict.&nbsp;

Computer science student Amir Mohammad Amiri was walking around his family's house late at night in the southeastern province of Ghazni when he was shot during a joint US-Afghan forces operation.

"I was going from one room to another when the bullet hit me," said Amiri, 23, a thick white bandage covering the right side of his chest.

"They were searching for Taliban."

The never-ending violence makes Hedayat worry for the future of his own four children.

"I hope they will have a normal life," he said. "They shouldn't have a life like mine."&nbsp;

Afghan surgeon Hedayatullah Hedayat has treated thousands of civilians wounded in conflict over the past 15 years -- victims of attacks from shootings to bomb blast -- but he never gets used to the horrors of war.

Afghan surgeon Hedayatullah Hedayat has treated thousands of civilians wounded in conflict over the past 15 years -- victims of attacks from shootings to bomb blast -- but he never gets used to the horrors of war. "It's not normal," said Hedayat, 42, who works at a trauma hospital in Kabul run by Italian charity Emergency, where the wards are filled with casualties, many wearing splints, casts and bandages. "Each case of trauma for me is new, a new hurt, a new wound on the soul. Psychologically it's a trauma," he added. In 2018 a record 10,993 civilians were wounded or killed in Afghanistan, according to UN figures released Sunday. Many of them were rushed to Emergency's basic but clean 120-bed facility in the heart of the Afghan capital, which focuses on providing urgent treatment to victims of war. Inside the hospital, two boys lie on adjacent beds under light-green blankets, one with a broken arm, the other on a drip, as winter light streams into the room from the snow-covered grounds outside. Meanwhile, the highly trained Afghan and foreign medical staff prepare to change the dressing on a leg wound, and a meal of rice, soup, and an apple is served to the inpatients. Of last year's civilian casualties, 3,804 died and 7,189 were wounded -- the highest UN tally since it began keeping records in 2009 and including 927 children, a record for a single year. It underscores how regular Afghans continue to pay a disproportionate price in the deteriorating security situation, as the US begins fresh talks with the Taliban in Qatar this week seeking an end to the conflict. The doctors at Emergency are in a constant state of readiness for the next suicide attack or roadside bombing. Since 2014, when NATO combat troops pulled out of the country, "every year the number of patients and the severity of the casualties are increasing day by day", Hedayat said recently. A record 4,076 people were admitted to the Kabul hospital in 2018 -- 530 more than the previous year, said Dejan Panic, program coordinator for Emergency in Afghanistan, which also operates two other hospitals as well as dozens of health clinics around the country. "That was the busiest so far," Panic said. Hoping for 'normal life' Ordinary Afghans have long borne the brunt of the fighting in Afghanistan, which by some estimates is now the world's deadliest conflict zone. Most were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Thirteen-year-old Samiul Haq was planting onions with his father and brothers a few hours drive from Kabul when he was shot three times in a skirmish between Taliban militants and Afghan forces. One of the bullets sliced off his left index and middle fingers, leaving the schoolboy with a permanent reminder of the 17-year war. "I got hit three times -- once in the fingers, once in the elbow and once in the leg," Samiul Haq told AFP as he prepared to leave Emergency's facility. Abdul Salaam Stanekzai, 67, was walking home from a Koran recitation ceremony in the eastern province of Logar when a magnetic bomb attached to a passing vehicle exploded, spraying shrapnel into his arm and leg. One person was killed and three others were wounded in the blast, Stanekzai said, as he sat in his hospital-issue pyjamas in a men-only ward overlooking the garden. Some do not even have to leave their own home to become a statistic of the long-running conflict. Computer science student Amir Mohammad Amiri was walking around his family's house late at night in the southeastern province of Ghazni when he was shot during a joint US-Afghan forces operation. "I was going from one room to another when the bullet hit me," said Amiri, 23, a thick white bandage covering the right side of his chest. "They were searching for Taliban." The never-ending violence makes Hedayat worry for the future of his own four children. "I hope they will have a normal life," he said. "They shouldn't have a life like mine."

'It's a trauma': Afghan doctors on the frontline of war

Taliban fighters killed more than 20 Afghan security forces in simultaneous raids on a provincial capital and district in northern Afghanistan, an official said Tuesday, as the city braced for further violence.

Hundreds of militants were outside Sar-e-Pul city, which provincial governor spokesman Zabihullah Amani said was at risk of falling to the Taliban if reinforcements were not sent.&nbsp;

The Taliban have stepped up attacks on security forces across the country, slaughtering police and soldiers in record numbers, as the threat of a US drawdown complicates American-led efforts to end the 17-year conflict.

"The enemy is still amassing forces outside the city," Amani told AFP.

"We have deployed all the forces available in the city, but no reinforcements have arrived from outside so far.

"The people inside the city are very worried."

Taliban fighters launched the attacks on Sar-e-Pul and neighbouring Sayad district on Monday night, which Amani said were aimed at seizing control of several oil wells on the outskirts of the city.&nbsp;

At least 21 local forces, including police and intelligence, were killed and another 23 wounded in the attacks, Amani said.

"They have attacked the city many times in the past, but this time the threat is more serious," he said.

A security official, who spoke to AFP on the condition of anonymity, put the death toll slightly lower at between 15 and 20 members of local forces.&nbsp;

Kabul-based interior ministry deputy spokesman Nasrat Rahimi confirmed there had been casualties, but would not provide details.&nbsp;

He said reinforcements had been deployed to Sar-e-Pul and dismissed concerns that the provincial capital was at risk of falling to the insurgents.&nbsp;

The Taliban confirmed the attacks, saying their fighters had captured three checkpoints and killed or wounded 50 members of the security forces.

Afghanistan's largest militant group made significant territorial gains in 2018, including overrunning Ghazni city -- a few hours' drive from Kabul -- which they held for several days before being pushed back with the help of US airpower.&nbsp;

At the time, officials said Ghazni remained in government hands. But residents told AFP that the insurgents were in the streets, burning buildings and targeting civilians. &nbsp;

The Taliban's increased aggression on the battlefield coincided with a flurry of diplomatic efforts aimed at bringing the group to the negotiating table.

In recent days, Taliban representatives have met with Iran, as Tehran makes a more concerted and open push for peace ahead of a possible US drawdown.&nbsp;

The Taliban delegation discussed with Iran "the post-occupation situation, restoration of peace and security in Afghanistan and the region", the militants said in a statement posted on social media and emailed to journalists on Tuesday.

It signals a growing confidence among the Taliban that US troops will pull out of Afghanistan, after US officials last month told various media outlets that President Donald Trump had decided to slash the number of boots on the ground.

Hundreds of militants were outside Sar-e-Pul city, which provincial governor spokesman Zabihullah Amani said was at risk of falling to the Taliban if reinforcements were not sent.

Taliban fighters killed more than 20 Afghan security forces in simultaneous raids on a provincial capital and district in northern Afghanistan, an official said Tuesday, as the city braced for further violence. Hundreds of militants were outside Sar-e-Pul city, which provincial governor spokesman Zabihullah Amani said was at risk of falling to the Taliban if reinforcements were not sent. The Taliban have stepped up attacks on security forces across the country, slaughtering police and soldiers in record numbers, as the threat of a US drawdown complicates American-led efforts to end the 17-year conflict. "The enemy is still amassing forces outside the city," Amani told AFP. "We have deployed all the forces available in the city, but no reinforcements have arrived from outside so far. "The people inside the city are very worried." Taliban fighters launched the attacks on Sar-e-Pul and neighbouring Sayad district on Monday night, which Amani said were aimed at seizing control of several oil wells on the outskirts of the city. At least 21 local forces, including police and intelligence, were killed and another 23 wounded in the attacks, Amani said. "They have attacked the city many times in the past, but this time the threat is more serious," he said. A security official, who spoke to AFP on the condition of anonymity, put the death toll slightly lower at between 15 and 20 members of local forces. Kabul-based interior ministry deputy spokesman Nasrat Rahimi confirmed there had been casualties, but would not provide details. He said reinforcements had been deployed to Sar-e-Pul and dismissed concerns that the provincial capital was at risk of falling to the insurgents. The Taliban confirmed the attacks, saying their fighters had captured three checkpoints and killed or wounded 50 members of the security forces. Afghanistan's largest militant group made significant territorial gains in 2018, including overrunning Ghazni city -- a few hours' drive from Kabul -- which they held for several days before being pushed back with the help of US airpower. At the time, officials said Ghazni remained in government hands. But residents told AFP that the insurgents were in the streets, burning buildings and targeting civilians. The Taliban's increased aggression on the battlefield coincided with a flurry of diplomatic efforts aimed at bringing the group to the negotiating table. In recent days, Taliban representatives have met with Iran, as Tehran makes a more concerted and open push for peace ahead of a possible US drawdown. The Taliban delegation discussed with Iran "the post-occupation situation, restoration of peace and security in Afghanistan and the region", the militants said in a statement posted on social media and emailed to journalists on Tuesday. It signals a growing confidence among the Taliban that US troops will pull out of Afghanistan, after US officials last month told various media outlets that President Donald Trump had decided to slash the number of boots on the ground.

Taliban kill 21 Afghan security forces, threaten city: Official

On a good day, it takes Mohammad less than three hours to drive from Ghazni to Kabul. But preparations for the hair-raising journey through Taliban-infested areas can take weeks.

Road trips are a dangerous, and often deadly, activity in Afghanistan.&nbsp;

Travellers run the gauntlet of Taliban checkpoints, fighting, robberies, kidnappings, and pressure-plate bombs targeting government officials and security forces.&nbsp;

The stretch of Highway 1 between the Afghan capital and the southeastern city of Ghazni -- which the Taliban stormed in August and still threaten -- is one of the most treacherous.&nbsp;

Spontaneous trips are out of the question, said Mohammad, who is in his 20s and a regular visitor to Kabul.

Mohammad, not his real name, asked AFP to use a pseudonym to avoid being identified by the Taliban.&nbsp;

He begins preparing for the journey at least two weeks before his planned departure, starting with growing out his beard, which he normally keeps short, to create a scruffier appearance.

He then starts working his contacts, calling trusted relatives and neighbours who ply the busy route for information about Taliban activity along the main artery connecting Kabul to the insurgent strongholds in the south.

"You have to be careful who you call because you could be sold out to the Taliban" by someone working for the militant group, he told AFP.&nbsp;

'Many reasons to worry'

On the day of his departure, Mohammad swaps his clean, well-ironed clothes for a dirty pyjama-like shalwar kameez to make himself look more like a villager and clears the call history on his mobile in case a phone number raises suspicion.

"You can't just jump into a car and come (to Kabul), not if you want to be on the safe side," he said.

Mohammad's most recent trip to Kabul was delayed for three days after he received warnings of Taliban disguised as Afghan soldiers manning checkpoints along the road.&nbsp;

The first thing Taliban militants check is a person's tazkira, or national identification document.&nbsp;

"If the tazkira is from Ghazni then you may be fine. If not, they might think that you are a member of the security forces from another province coming to Ghazni to fight," Mohammad said.&nbsp;

After registering to vote in the October 20 parliamentary election -- which the Taliban had vowed to attack and which was finally cancelled in Ghazni due to protests -- Mohammad carries a second tazkira that does not have a sticker identifying him as a voter.&nbsp;

"There are many reasons to be worried and anxious," Mohammad explained.

"Even if they don't kill you, they may keep you as a hostage and ask for a ransom. If they kept me for one night, my mother would not survive."&nbsp;

A one-way trip between Kabul and Ghazni costs Mohammad 250 afghanis (around $3) in a Toyota Corolla taxi, a ubiquitous model in Afghanistan that is often used as public transport. He tries to travel with drivers he knows.

He avoids travelling on Mondays and Wednesdays. Those are the days the Afghan army delivers supplies to its troops in the provinces and attacks along the highway are more likely, Mohammad said.

Thursday, the last day of the Afghan working week, is also a bad day to venture out of the city. Militants lie in wait for government employees as they leave Ghazni for the weekend.&nbsp;

Fear of death

Whenever possible, Mohammad said he travels with women wearing burqas, but not because he prefers their company.&nbsp;

In the deeply conservative society where physical contact between men and women in public is prohibited, female passengers can hide mobile phones and other sensitive items under their head-to-toe coverings without fear of the Taliban searching them.&nbsp;

Once on the open road, Mohammad remains vigilant.

He listens carefully to the phone conversations of the driver and other occupants for signs they are planning to give him, or someone else in the vehicle, up to the Taliban.

"Taliban spies use codes like 'I have brought the rooster that you asked for' or 'we found the yoghurt that you asked for'," he said.&nbsp;

An oncoming vehicle with lights blinking, a line of cars stopped on the highway, or no traffic at all are warning signs that something has happened up ahead. &nbsp;

"Fighting and ambushes are common. You have to accept that you might face it," Mohammad said.&nbsp;

Despite the risks, Kabul's alluring cafes and shopping malls make the nail-biting trip worthwhile, Mohammad said.

Even a few days in the heavily militarised and overcrowded city is "refreshing" and a relief from Ghazni, where he feels his "heart can burst from boredom".

But Mohammad does what he can to stay safe on his journey, even paying a few cents to a street beggar as he leaves the city in the hope the good deed will protect him.

"I still fear death," he said. "But I try to stay calm."

On a good day, it takes Mohammad less than three hours to drive from Ghazni to Kabul. But preparations for the hair-raising journey through Taliban-infested areas can take weeks.

On a good day, it takes Mohammad less than three hours to drive from Ghazni to Kabul. But preparations for the hair-raising journey through Taliban-infested areas can take weeks. Road trips are a dangerous, and often deadly, activity in Afghanistan. Travellers run the gauntlet of Taliban checkpoints, fighting, robberies, kidnappings, and pressure-plate bombs targeting government officials and security forces. The stretch of Highway 1 between the Afghan capital and the southeastern city of Ghazni -- which the Taliban stormed in August and still threaten -- is one of the most treacherous. Spontaneous trips are out of the question, said Mohammad, who is in his 20s and a regular visitor to Kabul. Mohammad, not his real name, asked AFP to use a pseudonym to avoid being identified by the Taliban. He begins preparing for the journey at least two weeks before his planned departure, starting with growing out his beard, which he normally keeps short, to create a scruffier appearance. He then starts working his contacts, calling trusted relatives and neighbours who ply the busy route for information about Taliban activity along the main artery connecting Kabul to the insurgent strongholds in the south. "You have to be careful who you call because you could be sold out to the Taliban" by someone working for the militant group, he told AFP. 'Many reasons to worry' On the day of his departure, Mohammad swaps his clean, well-ironed clothes for a dirty pyjama-like shalwar kameez to make himself look more like a villager and clears the call history on his mobile in case a phone number raises suspicion. "You can't just jump into a car and come (to Kabul), not if you want to be on the safe side," he said. Mohammad's most recent trip to Kabul was delayed for three days after he received warnings of Taliban disguised as Afghan soldiers manning checkpoints along the road. The first thing Taliban militants check is a person's tazkira, or national identification document. "If the tazkira is from Ghazni then you may be fine. If not, they might think that you are a member of the security forces from another province coming to Ghazni to fight," Mohammad said. After registering to vote in the October 20 parliamentary election -- which the Taliban had vowed to attack and which was finally cancelled in Ghazni due to protests -- Mohammad carries a second tazkira that does not have a sticker identifying him as a voter. "There are many reasons to be worried and anxious," Mohammad explained. "Even if they don't kill you, they may keep you as a hostage and ask for a ransom. If they kept me for one night, my mother would not survive." A one-way trip between Kabul and Ghazni costs Mohammad 250 afghanis (around $3) in a Toyota Corolla taxi, a ubiquitous model in Afghanistan that is often used as public transport. He tries to travel with drivers he knows. He avoids travelling on Mondays and Wednesdays. Those are the days the Afghan army delivers supplies to its troops in the provinces and attacks along the highway are more likely, Mohammad said. Thursday, the last day of the Afghan working week, is also a bad day to venture out of the city. Militants lie in wait for government employees as they leave Ghazni for the weekend. Fear of death Whenever possible, Mohammad said he travels with women wearing burqas, but not because he prefers their company. In the deeply conservative society where physical contact between men and women in public is prohibited, female passengers can hide mobile phones and other sensitive items under their head-to-toe coverings without fear of the Taliban searching them. Once on the open road, Mohammad remains vigilant. He listens carefully to the phone conversations of the driver and other occupants for signs they are planning to give him, or someone else in the vehicle, up to the Taliban. "Taliban spies use codes like 'I have brought the rooster that you asked for' or 'we found the yoghurt that you asked for'," he said. An oncoming vehicle with lights blinking, a line of cars stopped on the highway, or no traffic at all are warning signs that something has happened up ahead. "Fighting and ambushes are common. You have to accept that you might face it," Mohammad said. Despite the risks, Kabul's alluring cafes and shopping malls make the nail-biting trip worthwhile, Mohammad said. Even a few days in the heavily militarised and overcrowded city is "refreshing" and a relief from Ghazni, where he feels his "heart can burst from boredom". But Mohammad does what he can to stay safe on his journey, even paying a few cents to a street beggar as he leaves the city in the hope the good deed will protect him. "I still fear death," he said. "But I try to stay calm."

Highway to hell: Afghan travellers run gauntlet of Taliban violence

At least 10 policemen were killed in clashes with Taliban fighters in the central Afghan province of Wardak, officials said on Sunday, amid fighting to wrest control of arterial highways a day after Taliban fighters blew up bridges.

The Taliban set fire to a government building in Wardak's Sayeed Abad district and killed the district police chief along with nine other policemen on Saturday night, a senior police official said.

Repeated assaults on strategically important provinces, such as Wardak and nearby Ghazni, have been a show of strength for the Taliban, underscoring how volatile security remains in Afghanistan two weeks before nationwide parliamentary elections.&nbsp;

Abdul Rahman Mangal, a spokesman for the Wardak governor's office, said the Taliban raided some civilian houses after killing 10 policemen, destroyed newly built checkpoints and cut power to some parts of the city.

Government forces counter-attacked to stop the insurgents from approaching the city, Mangal said.

A statement from the Taliban`s main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said the insurgents had taken the centre of Sayeed Abad and all surrounding security checkpoints, killing numerous members of the security forces and seizing weapons, ammunition and vehicles.

Mohammad Arif Noori, a spokesman for Ghazni's governor, said one soldier was killed by Taliban fighters as they tried to gain control over parts of the province nearly two months after being pushed back from the city by US-backed Afghan forces.

The Taliban attacked Ghazni, a strategically important centre straddling the main highway linking Kabul with Afghanistan`s south, in August. It was the largest tactical operation launched by the Taliban since they overran the northern city of Kunduz in 2015.

That confrontation killed 150 members of Afghanistan`s security forces and 95 civilians, as well as hundreds of Taliban fighters.

At least 10 policemen were killed in clashes with Taliban fighters in the central Afghan province of Wardak, officials said on Sunday, amid fighting to wrest control of arterial highways a day after Taliban fighters blew up bridges.

At least 10 policemen were killed in clashes with Taliban fighters in the central Afghan province of Wardak, officials said on Sunday, amid fighting to wrest control of arterial highways a day after Taliban fighters blew up bridges. The Taliban set fire to a government building in Wardak's Sayeed Abad district and killed the district police chief along with nine other policemen on Saturday night, a senior police official said. Repeated assaults on strategically important provinces, such as Wardak and nearby Ghazni, have been a show of strength for the Taliban, underscoring how volatile security remains in Afghanistan two weeks before nationwide parliamentary elections. Abdul Rahman Mangal, a spokesman for the Wardak governor's office, said the Taliban raided some civilian houses after killing 10 policemen, destroyed newly built checkpoints and cut power to some parts of the city. Government forces counter-attacked to stop the insurgents from approaching the city, Mangal said. A statement from the Taliban`s main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said the insurgents had taken the centre of Sayeed Abad and all surrounding security checkpoints, killing numerous members of the security forces and seizing weapons, ammunition and vehicles. Mohammad Arif Noori, a spokesman for Ghazni's governor, said one soldier was killed by Taliban fighters as they tried to gain control over parts of the province nearly two months after being pushed back from the city by US-backed Afghan forces. The Taliban attacked Ghazni, a strategically important centre straddling the main highway linking Kabul with Afghanistan`s south, in August. It was the largest tactical operation launched by the Taliban since they overran the northern city of Kunduz in 2015. That confrontation killed 150 members of Afghanistan`s security forces and 95 civilians, as well as hundreds of Taliban fighters.

Taliban kill at least 10 police in central Afghanistan: Report

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