Afghan Taliban kill 4 police in checkpoint attacks

An official in eastern Afghanistan says Taliban insurgents attacked two checkpoints, killing four police officers in the latest test of Afghan forces' abilities as their NATO mentors withdraw.
Mohammad Zahir Bahand, spokesman for Nuristan province, said today that the fighting in Kamdesh district began overnight with attacks on checkpoints manned by national police and border police.
The firefight, which left 13 militants dead, lasted hours and ended after reinforcements from the provincial capital, Paron, drove the Taliban away.
He said four police were also wounded. Insurgents have been attacking government installations around the country, testing Afghan forces who are now fighting almost completely on their own.

The US-led military coalition ends its mission next year.