The Taliban have killed at least 21 people in their latest attacks in Afghanistan, despite the beginning of peace talks with Afghan officials in Moscow.
Among the dead were 11 policemen slain when fighters stormed a checkpoint in northern Baghlan province, provincial officials said on Tuesday.
The attacks were reported as Taliban representatives began meetings with prominent Afghan figures, including former President Hamid Karzai, opposition leaders and tribal elders, but not Kabul government officials.
In the checkpoint attack, the Taliban targeted the local police force in the province's Baghlani Markazi district on Monday night, triggering a gunfight that lasted for almost two hours, said Safder Mohsini, head of the provincial council.
Five policemen were also wounded and the Taliban seized all the weapons and ammunition from checkpoint before reinforcements arrived, he said.
"They arrived there late, fought back and managed to get the checkpoint under control," he added.