<p>A suicide truck bomb attack on a joint NATO-Afghan army base in eastern Afghanistan today caused several casualties to Afghan forces, the International Security Assistance Force said.</p>.<p>Reports by Afghan officials of the number of soldiers wounded in the attack -- claimed by Taliban insurgents -- varied from 10 to 45, but there were no reports of any deaths.<br /><br />"This morning a joint ISAF-ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces) combat outpost in Zurmat district in Paktiya province was attacked by insurgents using a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device and indirect fire," an ISAF spokesman told AFP.<br /><br />"Early reports say the attack resulted in several ANSF casualties, but there is currently no reporting on ISAF casualties," he said.<br /><br />Deputy provincial governor Abdul Rahman Mangal told AFP: "Around 45 army soldiers have been slightly wounded, mostly by broken glass, by the huge blast caused by a truck bomb at the gate."<br /><br />The Taliban said their fighters had infiltrated the base after the suicide attack and fighting was continuing -- claims denied by ISAF and Afghan officials.</p>.<p>"Our mujahideen armed with rockets, machine-guns, hand-grenades and suicide vests successfully infiltrated an American forces base in Zurmat district following a suicide car bomb attack," Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told AFP.<br /><br />Afghan forces are taking on an increasing role in the war against the Taliban as NATO draws down its forces ahead of a pull-out of all combat troops at the end of 2014.<br /><br />So far this year the Afghan army and police have suffered an average of 535 casualties -- killed and wounded -- each month, ISAF said in a breakdown of the status of the 337,000-strong ANSF this week. </p>
<p>A suicide truck bomb attack on a joint NATO-Afghan army base in eastern Afghanistan today caused several casualties to Afghan forces, the International Security Assistance Force said.</p>.<p>Reports by Afghan officials of the number of soldiers wounded in the attack -- claimed by Taliban insurgents -- varied from 10 to 45, but there were no reports of any deaths.<br /><br />"This morning a joint ISAF-ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces) combat outpost in Zurmat district in Paktiya province was attacked by insurgents using a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device and indirect fire," an ISAF spokesman told AFP.<br /><br />"Early reports say the attack resulted in several ANSF casualties, but there is currently no reporting on ISAF casualties," he said.<br /><br />Deputy provincial governor Abdul Rahman Mangal told AFP: "Around 45 army soldiers have been slightly wounded, mostly by broken glass, by the huge blast caused by a truck bomb at the gate."<br /><br />The Taliban said their fighters had infiltrated the base after the suicide attack and fighting was continuing -- claims denied by ISAF and Afghan officials.</p>.<p>"Our mujahideen armed with rockets, machine-guns, hand-grenades and suicide vests successfully infiltrated an American forces base in Zurmat district following a suicide car bomb attack," Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told AFP.<br /><br />Afghan forces are taking on an increasing role in the war against the Taliban as NATO draws down its forces ahead of a pull-out of all combat troops at the end of 2014.<br /><br />So far this year the Afghan army and police have suffered an average of 535 casualties -- killed and wounded -- each month, ISAF said in a breakdown of the status of the 337,000-strong ANSF this week. </p>