KABUL The Ministry of Interior (MoI) confirmed Sunday that 14 securityforce members including the district police chief were killed in a Talibanattack on the district on Saturday night, TOLO News has reported.

The ministry denied reports of the collapse of the district and saidsecurity forces had pushed back the insurgents.

However, residents say clashes are ongoing.

“Some of the security checkpoints in the district collapsed, but thedistrict itself did not fall,” said Nasrat Rahimi the MoI’s spokesman.

The Taliban attacked Sayed Abad district in central Wardak province onSaturday night – just 85km south-west of Kabul city center.

Motorists and truck drivers from Kabul and other provinces said they havenot been able to use the Kabul-Kandahar highway for two days. This highwayis the main artery from Kabul to the south of the country.