KABUL – *At least 17 soldiers were killed and another 25 wounded in clashesbetween security forces and the Taliban in Ghormach district in Faryabprovince on Sunday, sources told TOLOnews. *

According to the sources, the Taliban attacked an Afghan National Armybase – commonly known as Chinese camp – and have occupied a fewstrongholds.

Soldiers and officers from inside the camp said they are under siege and ifreinforcement troops are not sent to them, they will all be killed.

Faryab MPs meanwhile accused government of negligence and said this basehad been under siege for a few days. Despite calls for help, securitydepartments failed to take action, the MPs said.

“We are worried about the soldiers. There is also a lot of equipment (onthe base) and if Taliban seize this, then they willthreaten the northern parts, especially Faryab,” Bashir Ahmad Tayyanj, anMP from Faryab said.

Afghanistan Army Chief of Staff Mohammad Sharif Yaftali on Sunday held apress conference in Kabul and confirmed the clashes at the camp but gave noinformation about casualties.

“There was a heavy fight and both sides suffered fatalities,” said Yaftali.