At least 14 people were killed in Kabul today when Taliban insurgents ambushed a convoy of Afghan government forces.
International forces also suffered casualties in the battle but military officials have released no details.
Recent fighting in southern Afghanistan has been some of the most fierce since the Taliban were overthrown in 2001. It comes as thousands of NATO peacekeepers are arriving in the region.
The insurgents ambushed the convoy in the trouble-plagued Sangin district of the southern province of Helmand.
The Taliban have stepped up attacks on foreign and government forces in recent months as NATO is expanding its peacekeeping force from 9,000 to 16,000, in preparation for taking over from US-led forces.
General Rahmatullah Raufi, the Afghan army's southern commander, said more than 10 Taliban had been killed following the ambush in Sangin.
An Afghan Defence ministry spokesman said four government soldiers were killed. He said he had no information on foreign casualties.
"The fighting is over now and we have started a mopping-up operation," a spokesman said.