Afghan officials have said that Taliban Mujahideen have killed 12 members of the Afghan security forces, including nine soldiers who died in a battle in the Maidan Wardak province just outside the capital, Kabul, Associated Press reported.

Hekmat Durani, the spokesman for the provincial police chief, told AP that the nine were killed in the Sayed Abad district, and that another three soldiers were wounded. He said five insurgents were killed in the exchange late Tuesday.

Jawad Hajri, the spokesman for the governor of the northeastern Takhar province, said the Taliban attacked police there, killing three and wounding another three.

The Taliban, who in recent years have taken over nearly half the country, claimed both attacks.