Taliban claim deadly attack on Afghan army base

The Taliban said they carried out a deadly attack yesterday on an Afghan army base after the government ordered forces to resume strikes against the militants. The defence ministry said a truck bomb targeted the base in the eastern city of Gardez, killing five civilians. Officials in the city said the dead included at least one soldier, adding that a further 24 people were wounded including army personnel. It comes after a particularly violent week which saw President Ashraf Ghani rescind the government's recent "defensive" stance aimed at promoting peace talks with the Taliban, and order troops back onto the offensive. The Taliban, who frequently exaggerate claims, said "tens of soldiers were killed and wounded" and denied reports any civilians died.

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