MAIMANA, Afghanistan, March 17 (Xinhua) -- At least 13 Afghan security forces and 15 militants were killed following fresh clashes in the country's northern province of Faryab early Sunday, a military source said.

"The clashes erupted after Taliban militants stormed national army and Afghan Local Police checkpoints in Harkilik locality of Qaysar district, southwestern side of Faryab," Hadi Jamal, a press officer of army's Division 20 Pamir based in the region, told Xinhua.

About 10 security forces and several militants were also wounded during the fighting which lasted for hours, he said.

The province has been the scene of heavy clashes as militants attack security checkpoints and military camps from time to time.

Zabiullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesman, tweeted that the insurgents' fighters had killed 36 soldiers and captured four others after they overran several checkpoints in Faryab in early hours of Sunday.

Earlier, Mohammad Nadir Sayyedi, a provincial council official, told Xinhua that 16 army soldiers and five police officers were killed following the clashes in Qaysar.

He said reinforcement troops evicted militants and reinstalled security checkpoints in the area on Sunday morning.