Blast leaves 2 Afghan soldiers dead

SHARAN (PAN): Two Afghan National Army soldiers were killed and five others wounded when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb in southeastern Paktika province on Tuesday, an official said.

The explosion took place in the Yahyakhel district, a spokesman for the 203rd Military Corps, Maj. Haroon Yousafzai, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He said the blast was followed by a gunbattle between the troops and insurgents in the area, inflicting casualties on the rebels, he said. However, he had no specific figures.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the bomb attack, with their spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid saying a number of soldiers were killed and wounded.

ma/mud