KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Taliban militants launched an attack on security checkpoints in Afghanistan's northern Kunduz province on Wednesday, killing five policemen, local official Qudratullah Safi said.

In the deadly offensive, which occurred at 02:00 a.m. local time at police checkpoints in Tepa Akhtar area of the restive Khan Abad district, eight more police personnel have gone missing, the official added.

Taliban fighters have also suffered casualties, he asserted, but could not give exact figure.

The Taliban militants who have intensified activities since April are yet to make comment on the attack.