Afghan forces kill 24 Taliban militants across Badakhshan Province
Iran Press TV
Sun Sep 8, 2013 2:37PM GMT
Afghan security forces have killed at least 24 Taliban militants and detained several others during cleanup operations across the troubled northeastern Badakhshan Province.
Local provincial officials said the militants were killed in large-scale security operation in Wardoj district and its adjacent villages over the past 24 hours.
Several militants were also injured during the raids on militants' hideouts across the troubled region, they added.
Wardoj district chief, Dawlat Mohammad Khawar, noted that at least six villages have been cleared from Taliban militants so far.
The authorities, however, did not mention whether there were any casualties on the side of Afghan forces.
The Taliban militant group has not yet commented on these developments.
In a separate development, at least four Afghan security officials and five militants were killed when a group of heavily armed Taliban militants attacked an intelligence bureau in Maidan Shar, the provincial capital of central Wardak province.
In late April, the Taliban announced the start of their annual offensive against US-led and Afghan forces, vowing a new wave of attacks across Afghanistan.
The militant group said it would use 'every possible tactic' to inflict casualties on Afghan and US-led forces. They specifically mentioned insider attacks, and bomb attacks.
The announcement prompted the Afghan authorities to beef up security in major cities across the country, including the capital city of Kabul.
The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan as part of Washington's so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but the country is still gripped by insecurity.
JR/PR
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