Insurgents Burn 26 Villages in Ghazni

Insurgents have attacked on 26 villages in Ghazni province, looting and torching them, local officials said on Saturday.

The insurgents who wore clothes similar to those of Afghan Kochis (nomads), attacked on 26 villages in Nahur district of Ghazni province, provincial council representatives said.

The insurgents clashed with Afghan security forces in Nahur district, the representatives added.

The representatives asked the Afghan government to support the Afghan security forces in the province.

"The District Police Chief and Afghan National Army have not yet intervened in the clashes. But many villages are being set on fire by armed attackers," Hamida Gulistani, a member of Provincial council told TOLOnews.

"There aren't any reports about whether they are Kochis, but they are Taliban who came from Pakistan," she added.

It comes as four security guards escorting a Nato convoy were killed and four others were wounded by roadside bombs in Ghazni today, Minister of Interior Affairs said in a statement.

The incident happened when two bombs hit a Nato supply convoy on Saturday morning in Di Khodaidad area highway, added the statement.

The Interior Ministry said two of the guards were members of Compas, a private security company.

Violence has recently increased in the province as militants have stepped up their activities in most villages.