18 pro-government militiamen killed in Afghanistan

Kabul, Jan 21: At least 18 pro-government militiamen were killed following a Taliban ambush in Afghanistan’s northern province of Balkh, officials said on Sunday. The incident occurred in village Bozboy in Sholgra district on Saturday night when Taliban militants stormed a security checkpoint, resulting in a clash that left 18 members of the Local Uprising Groups dead, an official told Xinhua news agency. The Taliban has claimed responsibility. Its spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted that a Taliban sympathizer was among the militia and he facilitated the attack. He said a Taliban fighter was killed and another wounded in the clash. (IANS)