Rebel leaders killed in Badghis offensive

QALA-I-NOW (PAN-led troops in the northwestern province of Badghis, an official said on Saturday.

The dead rebel leaders were identified as Mullah Sadeq, Mullah Karim, and Mullah Mir Ahmad. They were killed in a ground and air offensive in the Loka Surkh area of Balamurghab district late on Friday, said the Badghis police chief.

Col. Mohammad Jabbar Saleh told Pajhwok Afghan News another three militants were detained. They were involved in attacks against Afghan and international troops in the district. Soldiers and civilians suffered casualties during the offensive.

Mullah Nooruddin, a resident, said it was around 12:00 midnight when helicopter-borne troops clashed with Taliban fighters. He said they came to know about the deaths in the morning.  

He added the bodies were still lying at the site of the clash. He confirmed some militants were arrested by foreign troops.

Elsewhere, Afghan forces seized 30 jerry canes full of explosives in the northern province of Kunduz. The explosives had been placed in a compound in the Musazia area of Khanabad district, said Col. Abdul Rahman Aqshash, the deputy police chief.

mrh/ma/mud