Heavy fighting has continued across Afghanistan in the past 24 hours, despite growing calls for ceasefires. The biggest incident took place in Paktika Province, where the Taliban attacked a military headquarters, leading to a multi-hour gunbattle.
The Afghan government reported 65 Taliban were killed in the fighting, and three police slain. The Taliban had yet to comment, but usually both sides make reports of casualties heavily in their respective favors.
Fighting elsewhere in Kunduz left at least six civilians dead, when the Taliban hit a home in the area. This is the same area where Afghan airstrikes killed a number of civilians around a week ago.
Both sides continue to trade blame for why the fighting is getting worse, with the Taliban saying there were major operations against them in nine provinces, and that this has led them to growing numbers of counterattacks.
All of this fighting is bad for the ongoing peace process, and raises concerns about near-term talks. Despite all of this, there is no sign of substantial territory changing hands.
Scores Killed in Heavy Fighting Across Afghanistan
Taliban attacks military headquarters in Paktika Province
Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.
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