After several hours of heavy fighting between the Afghan security forces and the Taliban in Baghlan province on Saturday, security forces managed to push back the insurgents from the Baghlan-e-Markazi district, officials said.
According to them, dozens of insurgents attacked check posts in the Doshi, Khenjan, Dand-e-Ghori and Dand-e-Shahabuddin areas early Saturday.
Mahfullah Akbari, police spokesman for the north-eastern zone, confirmed the attack and said at least 17 insurgents were killed during the clash.
According to Akbari, 17 were killed and 15 others were wounded. He warned however that the Baghlan-Kunduz highway was still not safe but they hoped to reopen it to traffic within the next few hours.
Baghlan police said that two Afghan security force members were also killed during the battle and that three others were wounded.