GHAZNI, Afghanistan, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- A Taliban attack in Afghanistan's eastern province of Ghazni left eight local policemen dead and another wounded, a provincial government spokesman said Thursday.

"Taliban militants attacked an Afghan Local Police (ALP) checkpoint, late on Wednesday night, in Rubat area of Deh Yak district, following which, eight ALP police personnel, including an ALP commander, were killed and another was wounded," spokesman Aref Noori told Xinhua.

The government established the ALP, or community police, in 2010 to protect villages and districts around the country where army and police have limited presence.

Confirming the incident, Zabihullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesman, told local media that their fighters succeeded in killing at least nine local policemen, after taking control of their check-point in Deh Yak.

The violence has been on the rise as Afghan security forces struggle against a surge in attacks by anti-government fighters since the drawdown of foreign forces within the past three years.