Battle in northern Afghan province leaves 22 dead, 42 injured

Clashes between Afghan forces and Taliban militants claimed 22 lives including five security personnel and injured 42 others in the northern Badakhshan province on Friday, deputy to provincial police chief Sakhidad Haidari said Saturday.

"The deadly clash erupted in Khostak area of Jarm district Friday morning and lasted till late night during which 22 people including five security personnel and 17 Taliban rebels had been killed and 42 others including 30 rebels and 12 security personnel sustained injuries," Haidari told Xinhua.

Eight out of 17 militants had been killed in the battle were foreign nationals, the official asserted.

However, he didn't identify their nationalities.

Meantime, Zabihullah Mujahid who claims to speak for the Taliban outfit in contact with media confirmed the conflict, but added only five insurgents had been killed and nine others injured in the clashes which lasted for hours.

He also claimed killing 26 security personnel in the conflict, which was dismissed by the police officer as baseless.