Afghan local police deaths drop sharply, officials say

Afghan policemen keep watch at the site of a suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan June 20, 2016. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani

KABUL (Reuters) - Deaths among Afghan local police forces, who bear the brunt of some of the most dangerous fighting against Taliban insurgents have dropped by around a quarter to 295 members since March 21, due to better equipment and training, officials said on Saturday.

Since the start of the Persian New Year on March 21, 295 members of the Afghan Local Police (ALP) have been killed, compared with 403 deaths in the period between March 21 and July 21 last year, Interior Ministry officials told reporters.