7 dead in Ghor, Jawzjan clashes

CHAGHCHARAN/SHIBERGHAN (PAJHWOK): Six militants and a policeman have been killed during separate clashes in western Ghor and northern Jawzjan provinces, officials said on Saturday.

A group of about 100 armed rebels staged an attack on the Dolina district headquarters, sparking a clash with security forces.

Six attackers were killed during the clash that forced the remaining rebels to flee, said the newly-appointed provincial police chief.

Brig. Gen. Ahmad Fahim Qaim told Pajhwok Afghan News local residents fought alongside security forces to repulse the attack.

In Jawzjan, a policeman was killed during an ambush by the Taliban in Gogardak area on the Mazar-i-Sharif -Shiberghan Highway, police chief Faqir Mohammad Jawzjani said

The slain officer was part of a police party searching for militants in the area following a tip-off when came under attack from the rebels, he said.

Jawzjani added the Taliban wanted to blow up a gas pipe in the area to disrupt supply to Mazar-i-Sharif from the oil and gas fields near Shiberghan.

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