At least 32 dead across three provinces in Afghanistan

At least 32 people have been killed in three Afghan provinces during Taliban attacks that have been ongoing since late Wednesday, officials on Thursday.

At least 11 people were killed in two incidents in Logar province, local officials said.

At least eight people were killed when a blast ripped through a gathering of peace activists, the Afghan military said in a statement.

At least four others were injured in the incident, the Thundar Military Corps command in the province said on Facebook, adding that the Taliban was responsible for the attack.

Taliban militants have yet to comment on the incident. The cause of the explosion not yet known.

At least three others were killed in crossfire between two opposing groups within the Taliban, provincial police chief Ahmad Abdali said.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, however, blamed Afghan security forces for the deaths.

In Nangarhar, meanwhile, at least five members of the security forces were killed in Taliban attacks in two districts, provincial council members Israrullah Murad and Sohrab Qaderi told dpa.

A Taliban attack on a check point in Momand Dara district left four border police dead and two others wounded, the provincial council members said.

At least one police officer was killed and another was injured after a firefight with the Taliban, Qaderi said.

Furthermore, Taliban attacks on a number of border force checkpoints in Takhar province left at least 16 members of the Afghan security forces dead, an official said.

Two others were also wounded in the overnight militant attack, which took place in the province's Cha-e-Ab district, provincial council deputy Salahuddin Burhani told dpa.

However, a provincial council member, Rohullah Raoufi, put the casualties from the battle at eight dead, adding that six had been injured. He also said two members of the border police had been taken hostage by Taliban militants.

Dozens of Taliban militants attacked at least three checkpoints in the district, both officials said.

Taliban militants have an active presence in at least six districts of Takhar province.

Over the course of the last week, more than 60 members of the Afghan security forces have been killed amid mounting Taliban attacks across Afghanistan.

The government and the Taliban leadership suspended fighting for three days earlier this month, during the Eid religious holiday, a step that was celebrated by millions of Afghans.

President Ashraf Ghani extended the government's ceasefire, hoping the militants would do the same. However, the Taliban rejected the request and ramped up attacks starting late Sunday.