The Afghan government said it had repelled an assault by the Taliban in Takhar – a key northern province bordering Tajikistan. Over a dozen Taliban fighters were killed in airstrikes, the defense ministry said. The action came amid a string of recent attacks launched by the insurgents as U.S. and European troops withdraw from the country. Afghan authorities said they've installed an anti-missile system at Kabul airport to counter incoming rockets. President Ashraf Ghani has called on the Taliban to put down their weapons.