At least 21 armed Taliban insurgents were killed on Monday night in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban insurgents, Paktia governor’s office said Tuesday. 

According to officials, the clash broke out on Monday night at around midnight in Janikhel district when Taliban insurgents attacked security check posts in the district. The clash reportedly ended on Tuesday morning at about 8am local time.

Dozens of insurgents were wounded in the clash, officials added. 

During the attack four security forces were killed and six others were wounded. 

However a security source from Paktia said that 16 security force members were killed in the clash with the Taliban and 12 others were wounded.

The governor’s office rejected Taliban’s claims that the district had fallen to the militant group.

Taliban said in a statement on Tuesday that their fighters captured the district and killed a number of security forces.

The office said that during the Taliban’s clash the militants suffered heavy casualties and repelled the attack. 

Meanwhile, Taj Mohammad Mangal, a Paktia provincial council member, told TOLOnews that a local police check post collapsed to the Taliban in Kotkai area of Janikhel district of Pakita province but did not give information on causalities.

Janikhel borders Pakistan and some parts of the district have for a while been insecure.