11 Arab, Pakistani rebels killed in Ghazni offensive

GHAZNI CITY (PAN airstrike in the Qarabagh district of southern Ghazni province, officials said on Wednesday.

A Haqqani network militant was also wounded in the airstrike that followed by a ground offensive in the area, the 203rd Thunder Military Corps commander Gen. Daud Shah Wafadar told Pajhwok Afghan news.

The wounded insurgent was taken away by the foreign troops, he said, adding a motorbike and some weapons were recovered from the scene.

The commander said the ground operation, involving Afghan and foreign troops, was still ongoing in the district.

Saifullah, a resident, said a house in their neighbourhood was attacked by a NATO helicopter last night.

Next morning, he said they came to know some Pakistani and Arab militants had been killed in the house.

An ISAF statement said several suspected insurgents were detained during the joint operation in Qarabagh last night.

A separate statement issued by the alliance said Niamatullah, a Haqqani network commander, was killed in a joint operation in Nadershahkot district of southeastern Khost province late Tuesday night.

The commander was killed after he opened fire at the joint forces, the statement said, adding that some additional suspects were also detained during the operation.

mds/ma/vp