Five soldiers and seven militants were killed in fighting that erupted when security forces went to rescue a Czech diplomat who came under fire in eastern Afghanistan, an official said Wednesday.
The Afghan military forces responded to a call for help after the charge d'affaires of the Czech embassy in Kabul was fired on by gunmen while he was travelling through eastern Paktia province, a provincial spokesman said. The diplomat, Filip Velach, was unhurt but two of his bodyguards were injured in the attack in Zurmat district, Din Mohammad Darwish said.
"Fighting erupted after the soldiers arrived in the area. Five soldiers and seven Taliban were killed in the fighting," Darwish said, adding the battle lasted more than one hour. The men had taken refuge in a house before the troops arrived, the spokesman said.
A Czech foreign ministry spokeswoman said the three put out a distress call to Nato's International Security Assistance Force. They were taken by helicopter to a US military base. Velach has been heading the Czech diplomatic mission in Kabul since mid-April. Around 180 Czech soldiers are serving in ISAF.