Taliban, Afghan Forces Trade Attacks, at Least 35 Taliban Killed

Hope for a deal on a reduction in violence remains a priority in Afghanistan this weekend, with heavy fighting on Sunday killing scores and hitting a large number of provinces.

Afghan forces hit the Taliban in several provinces, killing at least 35 and wounding 17 others. Afghan officials said they also destroyed a number of Taliban vehicles in the fighting, including motorcycles.

The Taliban argued that they are in a defensive position, getting hit by increasingly aggressive government forces. That didn’t stop the Taliban from launching attacks of their own in 24 different provinces on Sunday.

With peace talks ongoing in Doha, both sides have claimed the other is the primary aggressor, and that they are chiefly defensive. Despite this, both sides seem to be trying to launch growing offensives.