Afghanistan to investigate killing of police personnel near Kabul

Afghan president on Sunday ordered an investigation into a Taliban deadly attack which killed more than 20 police personnel in eastern Wardak province.

Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani issued a decree and assigned a high-ranking delegation to visit Jalrez district and conduct a thoroughly investigation into the latest incident there during which a number of Afghan Local Police (ALP) forces were killed and wounded, said an official statement issued here.

On Thursday, over 20 ALP members and two civilians were killed and two dozen police wounded after Taliban militant attacked security checkpoints in Jalrez district of Wardak province with Maidan Shar as its capital, 34 km west of Kabul.

The delegation was tasked to study in close coordination with provincial officials all factors and motives which led to the bloody incident and report to the president in earliest time, according to the statement.

The government established the ALP, or community police, in 2010 to protect villages and districts where army and police have limited presence.

The provincial council members blamed the provincial officials and security authorities for failing to respond into attack and negligence in sending reinforcement troops following the incident.

The casualties of Afghan soldiers and police have risen recently as the United States and NATO troops in Afghanistan have switched from combat to support role, namely training, advising and assisting Afghan forces since Jan. 1 this year.