Violence in west of Afghanistan

At least six Afghan Local Police (ALP) personnel, including a commander and seven Taliban rebels were killed in two separate security incidents in Afghanistan's western province of Faryab, officials said on Friday.

Tagab district chief Sayed Luqman said in a press statement that six ALP officials, including a commander, were killed in a mine blast in Astana Baba locality of the district.

Taliban planted two bombs under a tree, one was defused by a police party while the other went-off killing six policemen on the spot, KUNA quoted Luqman as saying.

Luqman added that a mine making expert along with his six associates were killed when their mine exploded prematurely. The notorious militant used to devise mines for the 14 districts of the province and train new mine making experts, he noted.