TALUQAN, Afghanistan, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Up to 25 people including 15 militants and 10 security personnel have been confirmed dead as a clash broke out in Eshkamish district of northern Afghanistan's Takhar province on Friday, district governor Abdul Qayum Qani said.

The clash erupted after a group of Taliban fighters stormed security checkpoints in Khawja Bandkasha area of the restive district in the early hours of Friday, triggering fierce fighting which lasted for two hours. As a result, 15 militants and 10 security personnel were killed.

Three other security personnel sustained injuries, the official said.

Confirming the fighting, Takhar's provincial police spokesman Abdul Khalil Asir told Xinhua that six of the security personnel killed in the fighting belonged to the national police.

Asir also asserted that the Taliban militants fled away after suffering casualties.

Taliban militants have yet to make comment.