QALA-I-NAW (PAN): Two Taliban fighters and a police officer were killed during a clash in Bala Murghab district of northwestern Badghis province, an official said on Monday.

A third fighter was injured in the clash that took place in the Panarak area on Sunday night, police chief, Col. Mohammad Jabbar Saleh, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

The gun-battle erupted after a group of insurgents attacked a police checkpoint in the area, he said. In the ensuing clash, two attackers and a police officer were killed.

Resident Syed Noruddin said he heard gunshots in the morning and later he saw police carrying a dead body of their colleague.

Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, a Taliban spokesman, confirmed the clash, but denied the fighters had suffered any casualties. He claimed three policemen were killed and four others were wounded in the overnight attack.

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