Taliban militants capture dozens of soldiers at army base in N. Afghanistan

Taliban overran large parts of an army base in northern Afghanistan, killing at least 10 soldiers, wounding 15 and capturing dozens more in fighting over the past two days, officials said on Tuesday. The insurgents captured tanks and ammunition at Chenayeeha army base, in Ghormach district of Faryab province, in an offensive that began on Sunday, Reuters said, citing Mohammad Tahir Rahmani, head of the provincial council. “We have not been able to enter the base. Large parts of the base are still under the Taliban control,” Rahmani said. Another provincial official said that the Taliban had captured 40 soldiers, but 30 militants had also been killed in the fighting. The Taliban attack in the north coincided with clashes in southeastern province of Ghazni, which lies on the main highway linking Kabul with the south.