国际英语新闻:9 border forces, 16 militants killed in clashes in S. Afghanistan: officer

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- At least nine Afghan border force members and 16 militants were killed after Taliban attacked border security checkpoints in southern Kandahar province on Friday, provincial police chief said.

Gen. Taddin Khan told Xinhua that two border force personnel and nine militants were also wounded after clashes erupted in bordering Shorabak district early Friday.

The Taliban militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack in the province, 450 km south of Kabul.

Meanwhile, Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, a purported Taliban spokesman, told local reporters that the outfit's insurgents killed more than 20 border security forces while several Taliban fighters also died in the gun fight.

Security situation has been improving in Kandahar, the former stronghold of Taliban, over the past a few months as security forces have conducted search and cordon operations across the province. But Taliban militants attack government interests in the province from time to time.