Firefight leaves 5 dead in Pakitka

SHARAN (PAN fighters were killed during a firefight in southeastern Paktika province, officials said on Wednesday.

The clash took place in the Yahyakhel district on Tuesday as Afghan army and police launched a clean up operation in the area, a spokesman for the 203^rd Thunder Military Corps, Maj. Haroon Yousufzai, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

One ANA soldier and a policeman and three militants were killed and as many others militants were detained with weapons and ammunitions as a result of the clash that lasted five hours, he said.

A doctor at the Sharan civil hospital, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed receiving two dead of security personnel at the hospital.

A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, confirmed death of their two fighters in the clash, but claimed several Afghan and Foreign soldiers had suffered casualties.

myn/ma