In Afghanistan, the Taliban killed at least fourteen members of a pro-government militia in an attack on security checkpoints in the western Ghor province.

Government officials said that seven members of the militia were injured in the attack last night. The situation of two of them are said to be very critical.

The Taliban controls about half of the country and carry out daily attacks on Afghan security forces and government establishments. The US has held several rounds of talks with the insurgents in recent months aimed at ending the 18-year-old war.