The victims were at a party. "Immoral" dance and music are one possible motive for the execution-style murders; aiding and abetting NATO soldiers is another. Ten Afghan soldiers are also killed in the Taliban stronghold, where 75 per cent of the world's opium is produced, when their checkpoint is attacked.

Lashkargah (AsiaNews/Agencies) - An Afghan government official announced that the Taliban beheaded 17 civilians in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan. Two of the victims were women. Government spokesman Daud Ahmadi said the victims were killed last night in Roshanabad, Musa Kala District. The men had gathered to listen to music and watch the women dance when they were attacked. Some of the dead showed signs of beatings or had gunshot wounds.

It is unclear why they were executed. In the past, the Taliban have killed people for playing or listening to music or dancing, activities considered immoral according to their extremist version of Islam. Recently, people thought to be spies or allied with foreign troops were also decapitated in the same province.

This morning, ten Afghan army soldiers were killed in a massive Taliban attack on their checkpoint in the southern part of Helmand. As many as 200 insurgents were involved in the assault, 11 of whom were killed. Also this morning in Laghman province, two US soldies were killed by an Afghan army soldier who was subsequently killed by NATO troops.

Helmand, where three quarters of the world's opium is produced, is considered a Taliban stronghold.

Currently, approximately 130,000 NATO troops are fighting insurgents in Afghanistan alongside 350,000 Afghans. Combat forces are due to withdraw by the end of 2014, with only training troops remaining.

• afghanistan
• nato
• taliban
• civilians
• beheading