Afghan policemen/file photo

At least 10 policemen were killed in a Taliban attack in Nawa district in Helmand province of Afghanistan, local media reported on Saturday, citing sources.

The militants attacked a police check post in Samad Square in Nawa district on Friday night, killing 10 policemen, Tolo News said, citing sources.

Provincial governor spokesman Omar Zwak, however, stated that the attack killed two policemen and wounded 10 others.

Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

At least 26 Afghan soldiers were killed and 13 wounded in a Taliban attack on a military base in Kandahar province, the Afghan Ministry of Defence (MoD) said earlier this week.

26 Afghan soldiers killed in Taliban attack on Kandahar base: MoD

The militants 'attacked an army camp in Karzali area of Khakrez district of Kandahar last night,' MoD spokesman said

The resurgent Taliban have been ramping up their campaign against beleaguered government forces, underscoring rising insecurity in the war-torn country throughout the warmer weather fighting season.

Afghan security forces, beset by killings, desertions and nonexistent "ghost soldiers" on the payroll, have been struggling to beat back insurgents since US-led NATO troops ended their combat mission in December 2014.

According to US watchdog SIGAR, casualties among Afghan security forces soared by 35 percent in 2016, with 6,800 soldiers and police killed.