Taliban kill five at checkpoints in northern Afghanistan

The Taliban stormed two checkpoints in northern Sari Pul province, Afghanistan, killing at least five members of the security forces and setting of an hours-long gunbattle.

Zabihullah Amani, spokesman for the provincial governor, said the attack in the province's Sozma Qala district started late on Sunday night. The fighting lasted until Monday morning and left two troops wounded.

Amani said the insurgents captured six soldiers before fleeing the scene. Their fate remains unknown. The checkpoints were retaken and the area brought under control once reinforcements arrived.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but Amani blamed the Taliban who are active in the province and have stepped up their attacks against Afghan security forces.

Four students, between the ages of 10 and 16, were killed Saturday in eastern Ghazni province in a Taliban assault on a police checkpoint. 

Taliban insurgents have stepped up their attacks against Afghan security targets in recent months even as the US and Taliban press forward in peace talks aimed at ending nearly 18 years of fighting.

The ongoing peace talks with the Taliban follow years of escalating violence in Afghanistan.

According to the UN, at least 32,000 civilians have been killed and another 60,000 wounded in the last decade.