The Taliban killed at least 10 deminers in the province of Baghlan, in the north of Afghanistan, the latest episode of violence in the country where the withdrawal of foreign forces is underway. This was announced by the spokesman of the Ministry of the Interior, Tarq Arian. “The Taliban entered the compound of an agency that deals with demining operations and started shooting everyone,” the spokesman said. The attack took place in an area controlled by government forces.
The spokesman for the governor of Baghlan province, Jawed Basharat, told AFP that the Taliban attack took place last night in an area controlled by government forces. The attackers had their faces covered in masks, he said. Afghanistan is one of the most mined countries in the world, a consequence of decades of war. In recent months, the province of Baghlan has been the scene of violent clashes, sometimes daily in some districts, between government forces and the Taliban. The violence has escalated since May 1, when US forces began the final phase of their withdrawal which will be completed by September 11.
