HERAT: Taliban fighters killed as many as seven Afghan commandos in an hours-long attack on an army outpost, a lawmaker and the defence ministry said Wednesday.

The assault comes as Kabul authorities accuse the insurgents of stepping up attacks against security forces in recent weeks, after violence dropped across much of the country following a three-day ceasefire announced in May.

The Taliban raided the army outpost located in northwest Badhis province late Tuesday.

Badghis lawmaker Ziauddin Akazi said the insurgents attacked the Bala Murghab district outpost, triggering fierce fighting that lasted for about four hours.

“Most of those killed were members of commando and special forces,” Akazi said.

He said the attack came when a group of commandos and special forces travelled to the outpost from their base nearby.—AFP