Three dead in Afghan military base truck bombing

Afghan officials say latest attacks across the country have left at least 12 people dead and scores wounded, including a Taliban truck bombing in the country's north that targeted a commando base.

The violence comes as expectations had been rising that negotiations could soon get underway between the Afghan government and the insurgents.

The suicide truck bomber struck in northern Balkh province, killing three people, including two Afghan commandos and a civilian, according to Munir Ahmad Farhad, the spokesman for the provincial governor.

According to Hanif Rezaie, the spokesman for the Afghan army corps in the north, the initial military report said at least six commandos and around 35 civilians were wounded in that explosion, which also destroyed or damaged dozens of nearby civilians' houses.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the Balkh attack in a tweet, claiming that "tens" of military personnel were killed.

Separately, the Ministry of Defence released a statement late on Monday, saying 91 Taliban fighters were killed during an air and ground operation by Afghan army troops trying to open the highway between northern Kunduz to Khanabad districts.

The statement said 50 other Taliban were wounded in the fighting and that the highway was later reopened for traffic.

The Taliban are at their strongest since the 2001 US-led invasion toppled their regime, which had harboured al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

The insurgents now control or hold sway over about half of Afghanistan.