At least 14 security forces have been killed in three attacks across Afghanistan as violence grips the country and the start of peace talks continues to slow down.
At least nine security forces were killed and one wounded when the Taliban attacked a checkpoint in northern Takhar province on Saturday, the province’s police spokesman said.
Taliban attacks in the northeastern province of Badakhshan also killed four security forces, the province’s spokesman said.
Three magnetic bombs exploded in the Afghan capital, Kabul, killing at least four people and wounding at least four others, including a civilian, the city police said.
There was no responsibility for the attack in Kabul, which has recently seen a rise in sticky bomb blasts, which were regularly attached to the cars of security forces.
On Friday, the Afghan National Army (ANA) said in a statement that at least 114 Taliban fighters had been killed in air and ground offensives in the past 24 hours.
A delay in the prisoners’ release program has delayed the start of highly anticipated intra-Afghan peace talks.
The Taliban has repeatedly said it will not enter into peace talks with the government until the remaining Taliban prisoners are released.
Kabul has released 80 of a remaining group of 400 Taliban prisoners after securing the approval of a traditional grand assembly on August 9.
Following the initial release, Australia and France did not officially ask Kabul to release Taliban prisoners convicted of killing their citizens.
Afghan authorities say diplomatic efforts are under way to reach a compromise with both nations.
The government has already released 4,680 Taliban prisoners, while the armed group says it has kept its side of the deal with the United States by releasing 1,000 prisoners to pro-government.
On Thursday, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani urged the Taliban to lay down their arms and begin the proposed intra-Afghan peace talks.
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