Kabul: A government official in northeast Afghanistan says a major Taliban attack killed 18 Afghan soldiers days ago and saw the extremists behead some of the troops.
Ahmad Nawid Froutan, a spokesman for the governor of Badakhshan province, said Monday that another 10 soldiers are missing after the attack, which happened Friday.
The Defence Ministry said earlier Monday that the attack in Badakhshan's Jurm district caused 30 soldiers to be "killed, wounded or become missing." The ministry said it was conducting an investigation into the attack, which it said came from unspecified "neglect" by an army officer there.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack and said they killed 49 soldiers. The Taliban often exaggerates their claims.
The major attack comes as Afghanistan enters its summer fighting season.
