Dozens of people have been killed in a Taliban attack on a heavily fortified civilian and military airfield in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar.

The defence ministry said that at least 37 people, including many children, had been killed in the clashes. At least nine militants were also killed.

A number of hostages were seized in the 26-hour attack before Afghan forces retook the airport.

Final “mopping up operations” were now under way, military officials said.

The Taliban said a number of suicide fighters managed to enter the base with weapons. They said “martyrdom seekers” had launched “thunderous attacks on foreign and hireling personnel”.

The defence ministry statement said that a total of 11 insurgents took part in the attack.
As well as nine killed, another was injured. Reports said a final gunman held out on his own for several hours before being killed late on Wednesday evening.

Kandahar security officials put the number of attackers at 12, all of whom had been killed.

At least 35 people were injured in the attack, the defence ministry said.