Sediq Siddiqi, the spokesman of the Ministry of Interior (MoI), on Friday confirmed that 18 Afghan National Police (ANP) personnel were killed and 13 others injured when a group of insurgents ambushed them in the Wardoj district of Badakshan province. The MoI added that the incident happened on Thursday evening.

On Thursday, Maulawi Zabiullah Atiq, a member of the Badakhshan Provincial Council, had said that in the tragic event at least 24 police personnel were killed, 19 others wounded and six were taken hostage by the insurgents. But, the MoI out rightly rejected the comment saying that no personnel were taken hostage by the insurgents.

The incident happened at a time when the government had announced on Tuesday that the district had been cleared of insurgents after an operation was launched last week.

The MoI, while confirming the attack said that it has sent a delegation to the area to investigate the deadly incident.

"Yesterday, when the police personnel were returning from a mission, they were ambushed by a group of armed insurgents. In the battle, 18 policemen have been killed and 13 others wounded. The Acting Minister of Interior has set-up an investigation team, which will probe into the incident," said Mr. Siddiqi.

On the contrary, a number of MPs from Badakhshan province said that the Afghan Forces' casualties are higher than what has been announced by the government. The MPs added that in the ambush, over 20 personnel were killed and cited lack of proper coordination among the security institutions and illegal distribution of arms in the area as the major reasons behind the attack.

"There are different reasons behind such attacks, including lack of coordination between the security forces, lack of proper training and large scale distribution of illegal arms in the area," said MP Fawzia Kofi.

"The information which we have received from the intelligence sources shows that 24 police personnel were killed in the ambush, 19 others wounded and six were taken hostage by the insurgents. Six vehicles which belonged to the Public Protection Force (PPF) were also burnt," said Mr. Atiq.

Earlier on Tuesday, TOLOnews reporter, Sayed Azem Arash, visited Wardoj and reported that at least 44 Taliban insurgents have been killed and 28 others injured during the operation. The Afghan forces expressed confidence in the security situation in the district and assured that security forces have gained complete control.

Prior to the operation, Wardoj had become one of the most dangerous districts in Badakshan. Just a couple months ago, Taliban insurgents killed 16 Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers and abducted 12 others.

After the operation ended, security officials visited the district on Sunday to review the outcomes. General Bismillah Mohammadi, the Minister of Defense, confirmed that no insurgents exist any longer in the district.

Growing insecurity in the district had forced several residents of Wardoj to leave their homes and seek shelter in other parts of the province. The Afghan forces had promised to keep the district secure in the future and urged residents to return.

Wardoj district is one of the insecure districts in Badakshan province. Thursday's deadly attack is the second largest attack targeting the ANP. Three months ago, 16 Afghan National Army (ANA) personnel were taken hostage by the Taliban in the province.