Three Taliban militants were killed Saturday night as Afghan National Police ( ANP) repelled their attack in Imam Sahib district of Kunduz province in northern Afghanistan, an official said on Sunday. "A group of militants attack police checkpoint in Taj Gozar area and police encountered, killing three rebels on the spot, including Taliban outfits' local commanders Mohammad Sarwar and Bay," Muhalim Juma Khan, district chief of Imam Sahib, told Xinhua.
In talks with media via cell phone from undisclosed location, Taliban purported spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed that his men killed a dozen of police in the firefight.
However, Juma Khan rejected the claim by saying "No ANP forces killed or wounded in the incident."
Despite the presence of over 100,000 U.S. and NATO troops in the post-Taliban country, violence has reached its worst level of eight years war while Taliban militants have been attempting to infiltrate in peaceful areas.
Kunduz, a peaceful province until earlier this year, has been the scene of increasing Taliban-led insurgency over the past months.