48 rebels killed, 45 wounded in Paktika airstrikes, clashes

SHARANA (Pajhwok): Forty-eight militants have been killed and 45 others wounded during separate airstrikes and clashes with security forces in southeastern Paktika province, an official said on Saturday.

Foreign troops carried out airstrikes thrice in the Khoshamand district yesterday, killing 20 militants and injuring 25 others, Paktika police chief Brig. Gen. Khalilullah Ziaee told Pajhwok Afghan News.

But a resident of the district, Aslam, told Pajhwok Afghan News a civilian house was targeted in the airstrikes, killing a doctor and four children.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid also said a doctor’s house was targeted in the airstrikes. He said the doctor was a common man who was killed along with his several family members.

But the police chief said the airstrikes were carried out after accurate information and were precise.  “The house attacked was a centre of Taliban and there were no civilians at the time,” he said.

Khoshaman is an insecure district where Taliban militants openly operate.

The police chief also said dozens of insurgents stormed the Zeruk district centre last night in an attempt to capture it, but they faced strong resistance from security forces.  In the ensuing battle, Ziaee said 28 militants were killed and another 18 were wounded.

A security official in the Zeruk district said hundreds of local and foreign militants attacked the district centre last night.

He said an intermittent clash had been ongoing in the district for over the past one week, but the rebels were pushed back after additional security forces reached the district.

The Taliban have said nothing about the Zeruk district attack.

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