At least 13 Afghan soldiers killed in Taliban attack
Iran Press TV
Fri Apr 12, 2013 1:23PM GMT
Taliban militants have attacked an army outpost in Kunar Province near the eastern border with Pakistan, killing at least 13 soldiers, Press TV reports.
The incident occurred in the Nari district at dawn on Friday when a group of heavily-armed men engaged in a five-hour fighting with the army forces, Defense Ministry spokesman Mohammad Zahir Azimi said.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack. Putting the death toll at 15 Afghan soldiers, he claimed the militants managed to capture the post and seize ammunition and weapons without suffering any casualties.
But border police commander, Brig. Gen. Abdul Habib Sayed Khail, rejected the claim, saying three Taliban forces were killed and three others injured in the fire exchange.
Violence remains rampant in Afghanistan despite the presence of about 100,000 foreign troops, including 66,000 from the United States.
The US and its allies invaded the country in October 2001 as part of Washington's so-called war on terror.
The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but militancy along with blind attacks by US-led foreign forces continues to pay its toll on the Afghan people.
According to the United Nations, thousands of Afghan civilians have died and hundreds of thousands more displaced during more than 11 years of long war.
MAS/MRS/JR
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
