Twenty-three Afghan forces were killed in overnight attacks by Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan's northern provinces of Kunduz and Balkh and Takhar, sources said on Wednesday.

In Kunduz, insurgents attacked security checkpoints in Dasht-i-Archi district, killing eight forces including local police and army soldiers, a source told 1TV on condition of anonymity.
Four others were wounded in the assault, according to the source.
Provincial police confirmed death of two local police and wounding of another in the attack.
Separately, militants attacked a security checkpoint in Alam Kheil area of Balkh district, killing eight forces, said Ahmad Fawad Saleh, chief of Balkh’s highway police.
In Takhar, seven Afghan forces were killed by militants in Darqad district, said Jawad Hijri, a spokesman for provincial governor.
Eleven militants were killed while five others were wounded in the counterattack, he said.