AFGHANISTAN descended into further violence yesterday with 14 police officers and soldiers left dead by Taliban attacks in the capital Kabul.

Nine soliders were killed when an army unit in the Ab Kamari district was attacked by gunmen; five officers were killed in an attack on a police station in Qadis shortly afterwards, according to deputy police chief Ghulam Sarwar Haidari.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed the insurgent group was responsible for the attacks.