MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- An Afghan army press officer on Thursday said 50 Afghan Regional Amy (ARA) newly trained officers were deployed in northern Balkh province to strengthen security forces as fighting rages in the country.

The officers received a six-week training in Afghan National Army's Corps 209 Shaheen in Balkh province, Hanif Rezai, spokesman of Corps Shaheen said in a brief statement.

Regional Army is a local security entity composed of villagers to defend their community where the presence of the national army is slim to ensure security.

The new officers will be deployed in the desert province, which has been the scene of heavy clashes between Taliban militants and security forces for years.

Scores of security force members have been killed and wounded in Taliban attacks in Shortepa, Dawlat Abad, Balkh, Chimtal, and Sholgara districts of Balkh, in the region some 300 km north of Afghanistan's Kabul. Enditem

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