8 Afghans killed in Taliban attacks in Kandahar

Eight people, including four civilians, were killed as Taliban insurgents launched two attacks in southern Afghan province of Kandahar on Tuesday, sources said on Wednesday. In one attack, four police were killed and one was wounded when the militants attacked a security checkpoint in Ghorak district, the provincial government said in a statement. Three policemen were missing following the attack in the district, northwest of the provincial capital Kandahar city, 450 km south of Kabul. The militants also took several heavy guns and six AK-47 guns from the checkpoint, the statement noted. Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban, is notorious for poppy growing. In addition, four civilians were killed when the Taliban carried out an attack on police forces during a poppy eradication campaign in Maiwand district Tuesday, according to the statement. The statement also said three militants were killed in a premature blast and an engagement with the security forces in Kandahar on Tuesday. The Taliban insurgent group has intensified attacks in spring and summer known as the fighting season in the war-torn country.