61 insurgents killed in Paktika clashes

SHARAN (PAN border in southeastern Paktika province, the governor’s office said on Saturday.

A group of insurgents attacked police posts in the Zirok district, southwest of Sharan, the provincial capital, late on Friday night, sparking a two-hour gunbattle with security forces, the governor’s office said in a statement.

ALP chief, Azizullah Karwan, was quoted as saying 61 attackers were killed during the night-time clashes and their bodies had been taken to a health facility of foreign troops in Orgun district for identification.

The statement said the army troops and ALP lost one member each to the fighting that left another two security officials injured.

However, a Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, denied the claim as baseless, saying many security personnel were killed or wounded in the clash in Zirok district.

In central Maidan Wardak, a Taliban leader was killed and his two accomplices were injured by their own bomb, the governor’s office said, but did not elaborate.

In a statement, the governor’s office identified the slain rebel leader as Sifatullah. Two fighters involved in a number of security incidents were arrested in Syedabad district.

ma/mud