30 rebels killed in Qaisar offensive

MAIMANA (Pajhwok): At least 30 militants, including Pakistanis, have been killed during an operation in Qaisar district of northwestern Faryab province, an official said on Monday.

Provincial police chief, Mohammad Naeem Andrabi, told Pajhwok Afghan News 30 militants were killed and 10 others wounded during an operation launched two days ago in the district.

Three Taliban Nasir, Mullah Gulbuddin and Mullah Mohammad Gul, were among the slain Taliban commanders, he said.

“The militants killed in the offensive belonged to Faryab, Badghis, Ghor and Sar-i-Pul provinces. Pakistani Taliban were also participated in fighting against Afghan security forces,” he said, adding two Afghan National Police (ALP) members also lost their lives and three others and six civilians suffered injuries.

During the course of offensive, Andrabi said several areas such as Zafran, Arkik, Thomas, Ziaratgah and Shakh Bazaar had been purged of militants.

Qaisar district chief, Abdul Jamil Sadiqi, said fierce fighting with militants were still ongoing in Atraf Shakh, Tagab Erak and Chehelgazi localities of the district. He said three militants were killed and another wounded today when they stormed a police post in Taga Erak area.

The 209^th Shahin Military Corps spokesman, Mohammad Raza Raza, said eight militants were killed after they locked in gun battle with Afghan National Army (ANA) in Yakawlang area of Qaisar district.

He said four bodies of militants were still laying in the area, with four Kalashnikovs were recovered by the police.

Qaisar community council head, Ahmad Farhad Qaisari, said 30 insurgents, two policemen and a child had been killed in the clashes.

But a Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi denied any casualties suffered by Taliban and claimed that Shakh, Arkik and Zafran areas were under rebels control.

He said an ANA commander, Haji Mohammad and an ALP commander Rustam along with five other soldiers were killed and five others wounded in the firefight.

mds/rm

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