Kabul: At least 20 Afghan security force members, among them seven members of the special forces and three policemen, were killed in fighting with Taliban insurgents in Badghis, Helmand and Balkh provinces over the past 24 hours, according to local officials in these provinces.

Another seven soldiers were wounded, said the officials.

“Last night there was a fierce battle between the government forces and the opponents in Balamurghab district and it continued until 11:00pm,” said Saiqal Haidari, a spokesman for the Badghis police headquarters.

In the meantime, in another incident, at least six civilians, among them four children and a woman, were killed in the Muradian district of Jawzjan.

“Four children, a woman and an elderly man were martyred,” said Maroof Azar, a spokesman for the Jawzajn police headquarters.

The Afghan Ministry of Interior said that these civilians were killed as a result of a roadside bomb in Faron Qala village of Muradian district of Jawzjan province.

According to the Afghan security officials, 17 Taliban fighters were killed in the fighting in Helmand.

  “All over Afghanistan, the Taliban continue their brutal killings of the Afghan people,” said Abdul Zahir Tamim, a member of parliament.

 Although the Taliban have refrained from launching attacks on major Afghan towns and city centers after the signing of the peace agreement between the US and the Taliban on February 29, deadly battles have continued between the Afghan government forces and the Taliban outfits in the villages and districts across the country which also resulted in huge fatalities among Afghan forces.

 Afghan forces and the Taliban also engaged in fierce fighting in the Kajaki and Nawa districts of Helmand.

 What would be impact of the battles on the peace process?

 “Everyday hundreds of people, including members of the security forces and civilians, are killed by the Taliban. What kind of peace is this?" said Sher Mohammad Akhundzada, a member of parliament.

 Afghan government previously said that last week has been the deadliest week in Afghanistan over the past 17 years.

 According to the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Taliban last week killed 291 Afghan soldiers in 32 provinces of the country and wounded another 550 soldiers.

 The Taliban however have rejected the figures.

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