2 policemen killed in Kunduz roadside bombing

KUNDUZ CITY (Pajhwok): Two policemen were killed and as many wounded on Friday when a roadside bomb tore through their vehicle in Khanabad district of northern Kunduz province, officials said.

The blast took place in Khwaja Posta area on the Takhar-Kunduz highway this noon, injuring two police, said Kunduz police chief Brig. Gen. Abdul Hamid Hamidi. He said the highway was closed after the blast.

But the governor’s spokesman, Sunnatullah Taimori said the blast took place on the vehicle of 808 zone police, killing two cops and injuring as many. He said the injured police had been shifted to hospital and their condition was said to be stable.

Passengers on the route said the blast followed a clash between security forces and militants and then the road was closed for several hours.

Habib Rahman, who wanted to travel to Takhar province from Kunduz City, said a fierce gun-battle had been ongoing in the areas, with both the sides using heavy and light weapons. He said the standoff left stranded a large number of vehicles on the road.

Two days ago, the Taliban announced their spring offensive “Khandaq” and say so far the rebels have waged more than 200 attacks on government forces, causing them heavy casualties.

ma