At least 10 police dead in attacks focused on Afghan checkpoint

At least 10 members of the Afghan security forces were killed in violence centred on a security checkpoint in Herat province, officials confirmed on Friday.

A large number of armed Taliban stormed the RubatRod security checkpoint in the Shindand district of Herat province late Thursday night, a member of the provincial council, Mehdi Hadid, told dpa.Nine members of the Afghan security forces were killed and another was injured in the heavy gunfight that continued until early Friday morning, Hadid added.Elsewhere, a roadside bomb hit a vehicle belonging to the Afghan security backup forces on the way to the RubatRod security checkpoint, leaving one officer dead and three others injured, according to Hadid.A spokesman for the provincial governor, Jailian Farhad confirmed the attacks and casualties, but could not provide the exact number of casualties.So far, no insurgent group has claimed the responsibility.In the past year, the Taliban have been stepping up its attacks on district centres. In most cases, the territorial gains are short-lived.They are, however, keeping the exhausted Afghan forces engaged, causing many casualties.According to military sources, the Taliban control or influence at least 14.3 per cent of the country. Thirty per cent of the country is contested.