Seven army were killed in Balkh province.

Seven members of the army were killed and four others were wounded in clashes between government forces and the Taliban in Balkh province.

Mohammad Hanif Rezaei, a spokesman for the 209th Shaheen Corps, said the Taliban attacked a government checkpoint in the village of Lab Nahr in Chamtal district last night, inflicting heavy casualties.

He said that five Taliban, including their designated deputy district governor for Balkh’s Chaharbolak district, were killed in the clashes.

He added that new forces had arrived and the Taliban had fled the area.

The Taliban has not commented on the casualties.