Afghan Taliban claim victory after British withdrawal

The last British combat troops in Afghanistan were airlifted out of Camp Bastion on Monday

KABUL: The Afghan Taliban on Tuesday claimed victory over Britain in southern Helmand province, crediting their fighters with killing hundreds and handicapping "tens of thousands" of troops in the "bloodiest attacks" of the 13-year war.

The last British combat troops in Afghanistan were airlifted out of Camp Bastion, a sprawling base located near the provincial capital Laskhar Gah on Monday, ending a mission that lasted longer than World War II and cost 453 lives.

Despite praise from politicians, including British leader David Cameron, the province remains a stronghold for Taliban militants whose government was ousted from power in a 2001 US-led invasion, as well a hub for opium production.

In a statement posted to their website, the insurgents thanked Taliban fighters for their "immense sacrifices".

"No doubt, the bloodiest attacks by mujahedeen during the past 13 years, forced the invading enemy to leave. The official statistics by the enemy puts British casualties at 500 soldiers however the actual number of casualties is more than the official figures.

"These are the figures of life losses; the number of the handicapped soldiers reaches tens of thousands of troops."

It also called upon Afghans to turn their backs on the government which was working in the interests of Western powers.

"The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan calls on all those people who are fighting against their people as proxy of the invaders that they should use their sagacity. Do not fight in support of the enemy of Islam and the enemy of ours and your forefathers."

The Taliban have intensified their attacks all around the country in recent months as Nato combat forces which once numbered 140,000 withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of the year.

The US military estimated this month that 7,000 to 9,000 Afghan police or troops have been killed or wounded so far this year.

Ghani has signed a deal with the United States and Nato to allow 12,500 foreign troops, including 9,800 Americans to stay behind in 2015 to carry out military training after the alliance's combat mission ends.

17 Afghan police missing after Taliban attack: officials

At least 17 Afghan police are missing after the Taliban made a new push to seize territory in the country's northeast, officials said Tuesday.

The insurgents' latest offensive began Saturday when they attacked the Wardoj district of Badakhshan province, interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said.

"The Taliban attack on Wardoj has created a problem in the area. We have sent more reinforcements," he said.

"We have also lost contact with 17 of our police forces, we are trying to establish connections with them again," he added.

Afghan security forces are trying to repel the attack and find their colleagues, said provincial police spokesman Lal Mohammad Ahmadzai.

"We have surrounded the Taliban in Wardoj. So far, 10 Taliban, including foreign nationals, and two police have been killed," he added.

The insurgents have also been making concerted pushes in Logar province, close to the capital, in the northern provinces of Kunduz and Faryab, and in northeastern Badakhshan province.

Though they are able to carry out deadly and destructive raids they have so far been unable to capture fresh territory.

On Monday, a group of Taliban stormed a court in northern Afghanistan and killed at least seven people including prosecutors, shooting them in their offices at close range.

Overall levels of violence have increased at the Taliban have sought to exploit the vacuum left by the exiting Nato forces.

There are now about 40,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan, down from their 2011 peak of around 140,000.