KABUL: Taliban militants killed 30 Afghan soldiers and captured a militarybase in the western province of Badghis on Wednesday, the provincialgovernor said, their first major attack since a ceasefire for the Eidal-Fitr holiday.

The three-day Taliban ceasefire ended on Sunday.

Provincial governor Abdul Qafoor Malikzai said the Taliban attacked twosecurity posts in the early hours. Abdul Aziz Bek, head of the Badghisprovincial council, said one military base was targeted, in the district ofBalamerghab.

“Large numbers of Taliban came from several directions,” Bek said. “Afterhours of heavy fighting 30 Afghan security forces were killed and theTaliban captured the base.”

Fifteen Taliban were killed in other areas of the province overnight, hesaid, adding that the militants prepared their attacks and didreconnaissance of the area during their ceasefire.

The Taliban did not immediately comment on the attacks.

Naqibullah Amini, the spokesman for the Badghis police, confirmed the deathof 30 soldiers and said the Taliban killed four soldiers in separateattacks on security checkpoints in the same district.

The government also called a ceasefire for the holiday and Taliban fightersheaded into cities across the country over the weekend as both sidescelebrated the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

President Ashraf Ghani extended his unilateral ceasefire, initially due toend on Wednesday, by 10 days.

Some have criticised his ceasefire, which allowed the Taliban to freelyenter government-held areas, including the capital, Kabul.

“The consequences could be disastrous,” a senior Western diplomat in Kabulsaid this week. – APP/AFP