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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Afghan soldiers die as Taliban attack checkpoint in Kunar | Afghan soldiers die as Taliban attack checkpoint in Kunar |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Taliban fighters have killed 21 Afghan soldiers in an attack on a checkpoint in Kunar province close to Afghanistan's border with Pakistan. | Taliban fighters have killed 21 Afghan soldiers in an attack on a checkpoint in Kunar province close to Afghanistan's border with Pakistan. |
| At least one of the attackers was also killed and the Taliban told the BBC they had captured seven soldiers. | At least one of the attackers was also killed and the Taliban told the BBC they had captured seven soldiers. |
| Afghan President Hamid Karzai postponed a planned visit to Sri Lanka on Sunday because of the attack. | Afghan President Hamid Karzai postponed a planned visit to Sri Lanka on Sunday because of the attack. |
| The violence comes ahead of presidential elections that are due to be held in April. | |
| The BBC's Karen Allen in Kabul says it is one of the deadliest Taliban attacks against the army in the past year. | The BBC's Karen Allen in Kabul says it is one of the deadliest Taliban attacks against the army in the past year. |
| Gen Mohammad Zahir Azimi said "hundreds" of insurgents had been involved in the attack, which took place in the remote Ghazi Abad district of eastern Kunar province early on Sunday. | Gen Mohammad Zahir Azimi said "hundreds" of insurgents had been involved in the attack, which took place in the remote Ghazi Abad district of eastern Kunar province early on Sunday. |
| Heavy fighting is said to have continued for several hours. | Heavy fighting is said to have continued for several hours. |
| 'Infiltrators' | 'Infiltrators' |
| Kunar Governor Shuja Ul Mulk told the BBC it was possible that Taliban infiltrators in the army had helped organise the attack. | Kunar Governor Shuja Ul Mulk told the BBC it was possible that Taliban infiltrators in the army had helped organise the attack. |
| Mr Karzai's office said in a statement: "The Afghan president is saddened by this tragic incident, and therefore he postponed today's official trip to Sri Lanka." | Mr Karzai's office said in a statement: "The Afghan president is saddened by this tragic incident, and therefore he postponed today's official trip to Sri Lanka." |
| The government also confirmed that soldiers were missing, but put the number at six. | The government also confirmed that soldiers were missing, but put the number at six. |
| Militants have escalated attacks in recent months ahead of the withdrawal of foreign troops at the end of 2014. | Militants have escalated attacks in recent months ahead of the withdrawal of foreign troops at the end of 2014. |
| Casualties among Afghan troops have been rising significantly since they took the lead in the war against the Taliban. | Casualties among Afghan troops have been rising significantly since they took the lead in the war against the Taliban. |
| Security has been stepped up across Afghanistan ahead of April's elections. | Security has been stepped up across Afghanistan ahead of April's elections. |
| Eleven candidates are standing to replace President Karzai, who cannot seek re-election. | Eleven candidates are standing to replace President Karzai, who cannot seek re-election. |
| The Taliban has threatened to target the campaign. | The Taliban has threatened to target the campaign. |
| Separately, the Taliban said it had called off talks with the US about a prisoner exchange due to the "current complex political situation in the country". | Separately, the Taliban said it had called off talks with the US about a prisoner exchange due to the "current complex political situation in the country". |
| A Taliban spokesman declined to elaborate. | A Taliban spokesman declined to elaborate. |
| The indirect negotiations, mediated by Qatar, are aimed at securing the release of a 27-year-old US soldier held by the Taliban since 2009. Sgt Bowe Bergdahl is the only US serviceman still missing from the conflict. | The indirect negotiations, mediated by Qatar, are aimed at securing the release of a 27-year-old US soldier held by the Taliban since 2009. Sgt Bowe Bergdahl is the only US serviceman still missing from the conflict. |
| Five Taliban figures held at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility would be freed in exchange. | Five Taliban figures held at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility would be freed in exchange. |