At least 43 Afghan troops were killed in an attack carried out by Taliban terrorists on a military base in Kandahar in the third attack on a security installation this week.

"A group of insurgents attacked an army base in Chashmo area of Maiwand district in Kandahar province," the defense ministry said in a statement, adding nine soldiers were wounded and six are unaccounted for.

At least nine Taliban terrorists were also reported killed.

Just two soldiers are known to have survived unscathed after the attack on the base in the Chashmo area of Maiwand district in Kandahar province, the defense ministry said in a statement, adding that nine soldiers were wounded and six unaccounted for.

Defense ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri told AFP the attackers detonated at least one explosive-packed Humvee vehicle and razed the compound in the early morning assault.

The Taliban claimed the ambush in a message to journalists which said all 60 security personnel on the base were killed.

Ten insurgents died, the ministry said.

"We have sent a delegation to assess the situation. The base is under ANA (Afghan National Army) control," Waziri told AFP.