18 rebels, 2 ALP men perish in Kunduz clash

KUNDUZ CITY (PAN insurgents were killed and nearly a dozen others wounded during clashes with Afghan forces near the capital of northern Kunduz province, an official said on Saturday.

Insurgents attacked several checkpoints on Friday in Tobra Kush area on the outskirts of Kunduz City, killing one member of the Afghan local police and wounding two, police spokesman Sarwar Hussaini told Pajhwok Afghan News.

The attackers then moved to the Qala-i-Zal district where a gun battle with Afghan security forces lasted until about midnight.

Eighteen Taliban fighters and another local policeman were killed in the battle, and another 11 militants were wounded, he said.

Hussaini posted on his Facebook page a picture of 11 bodies lined up inside the provincial police compound in Kunduz that he said were those of Taliban militants his troops recovered from the scene of the fight.

The Interior Ministry said the battle outside of the city involved Afghan National Police, and that it was conducted independently “without the involvement of any foreigners.”

Hussaini said the dead insurgents included Qari Naimat, Mullah Ahmad Shah, Qari Saleem and an Uzbek citizen. Nine Kalashnikovs, an RPG7, a machinegun were also recovered from the insurgents, the police spokesman said.

However, a Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said that three local policemen including their commander Qadar were killed and several others were injured during the attacks.

myn/ma

Hits: 1