KUNDUZ, June 9, 2018 (News Wires) - At least 19 Afghan police officers were killed on Saturday in a pre-dawn raid by the Taliban on a base in the northern province of Kunduz, officials said, hours before the militants announced an unprecedented ceasefire starting next week. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which came a day after the insurgents stormed a military base in the western province of Herat, killing 17 Afghan soldiers. Kunduz provincial governor spokesman Nehmatullah Taimuri said five members of the local police force were also wounded in today's attack on a police base in Qal-e-Zal district. Provincial police spokesman Enhamuddin Rahmani confirmed the death toll and said eight Taliban fighters were also killed. Both attacks came hours before the Taliban announced a ceasefire with Afghan security forces for the first three days of Eid, the holiday that caps Ramadan and which is due to begin at the end of next week.
