43 Afghan troops die in Kandahar military base attack

KANDAHAR: At least 43 Afghan soldiers were killed in a militant attack on an Afghan military base in Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan, officials said.

The Taliban carried out two suicide car bombings at the military camp, setting off a battle continued for several hours.

“A group of insurgents attacked an army base in Chashmo area of Maiwand district in Kandahar province,” Afghan defence ministry said in a statement, adding nine soldiers were wounded and six have been unaccounted for.

A member of Kandahar province parliament, Khalid Pashtun, earlier said that at least 41 soldiers were killed in the attack, which began late Wednesday.

An Afghan security official, on condition of anonymity, confirmed the toll.

Sixty soldiers were deployed to the base, 43 have been killed, nine wounded, two are unharmed and six are unaccounted for, Afghanistan’s ToloNews reported citing security officials.

Afghan Ministry of Defence Ministry, however, has declined to comment on the number of casualties, but the ministry spokesperson, Daulat Waziri, talking to a foreign news agency confirmed the attack took place.

The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack in a media release.

Afghan forces have struggled to fight resurgent Taliban militants since the United States and NATO forces formally concluded their combat mission in the country at the end of 2014.