...Arabic for students...
and U.S. officials near a deal aimed at ending the 18-year war.
Government officials said 14 members of the militia were killed and several civilians were maimed during festivities in the western province of Herat
...a venerable old Persian-speaking city in western Afghanistan, populated mostly by Tadjiks, which is why it's not as blood-soaked as areas controlled by Pashtuns...
Abdul Ahad Walizada, a front man for Heart police, said the 14 men were killed in Rubat-e-Sangi district of Herat after a large number of Taliban fighters stormed security checkpoints in the Chahardara area.
"At least nine others are maimed in the festivities and the Talibs were pushed back after Afghan forces reinforced the area," said Walizada.
Taliban officials were not immediately available for a comment.