Clash between Taliban militants and police in Ghazni province south of Afghanistan left five persons including two insurgents and three police dead, provincial police chief Khayalbaz Shirzai said Wednesday.
"The rebels raided a police checkpoint in Nani village of Andar district late Tuesday night and police returned fire. The fire exchange lasted for two hours during which two rebels and three constables were killed," Shirzai told Xinhua.
Two more insurgents and two policemen sustained injuries in the gun battle, he further said.
Taliban militants have yet to make comment.
Militants who are under mounting pressure in the neighboring Kandahar and Helmand provinces since mid Februray have intensified activities in other provinces.