Taliban launches offensive in Afghan province

Kabul, Aug 10 (IANS) Hundreds of Taliban militants launched a massive offensive in Afghanistan's northern province on Wednesday, a local official said.

"Hundreds of Taliban militants stormed Dahna-e-Ghori district earlier today and fighting between militants and government forces has been continuing," Xinhua news agency quoted an official as saying.

According to the official, Taliban militants had overrun four police checkpoints while attempting to capture the district headquarters in Baghlan province.

Locals in Dahna-e-Ghori said 20 policemen under Nik Mohammad joined the advancing militants.

Two Taliban militants had been killed and a few others injured in the district, locals said.