In Afghanistan, at least 50 civilians have been killed by militants in northern province yesterday. Officials said that a checkpoint manned by local police was attacked in the Mirzawalang area of Sar-e Pul province. The assailants then entered the village and shot dead mainly Shia Muslim civilians including women and children. A spokesman for the provincial Governor said they were killed in a brutal, inhumane way. He reported that seven members of the Afghan security forces has also been killed, as well as a number of insurgents. A combination of Taliban and Islamic State group fighters including foreigners were involved. He said both are Sunni Muslim militant groups.<br/>The Taliban denied killing civilians, saying that its fighters had killed 28 members of a government-supported militia in the area. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack.<br/><br/>