Afghan Taliban Reportedly Kill 20 Civilians Over 'War Tax'

An Afghan official said Taliban militants have killed 20 civilians who refused to pay them "war tax" in northern Kunduz Province.

Kunduz police spokesman Sayed Sarwar Hussaini said on August 11 that the Taliban also shot and wounded 10 others over their refusal to pay the militant group.

Hussaini also said 16 militants were killed and six others injured in a military operation by government forces in the province on August 11.

According to a Defense Ministry statement, government troops launched 17 military operations against militants across the country on August 11.

Meanwhile, three top officials in northeastern Badakhshan Province have escaped a Taliban ambush unharmed.

Police say two soldiers were injured in an hourlong fight to rescue the Badakhshan governor and the heads of provincial police and intelligence service, who came under militant attack in volatile Jurm district.

With reporting by dpa