35 rebels killed in Laghman, Kunar clashes

MEHTARLAM/ASADABAD (Pajhwok): Thirty-five militants and two policemen have been killed during separate incidents in eastern Laghman and Kunar provinces, officials said on Saturday.

Laghman governor’s spokesman Sarhadi Zwak told Pajhwok Afghan News 25 militants, including three commanders, were killed and another 17 detained during an operation in Sangar Dara area of Alingar district.

He said a ruthless Taliban commander Zahidullah was among the detainees, adding Afghan forces suffered no casualties during the two-day operation wrapped up on Friday.

Elsewhere, 10 militants and two policemen were killed and 12 other rebels wounded during clashes in Narai district of Kunar.

Kunar police chief Brig. Gen. Abdul Habib Syedkhel said militants, including Pakistan-based rebel group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) fighters attacked border and national police posts in Narai district on Saturday morning.

In the ensuing clashes, 10 militants were killed and a dozen others, most of them Pakistanis, were wounded. The clashes left two policemen also dead, Syedkhel said.

A Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed three security posts were destroyed and 18 police personnel killed during the clashes in Narai.

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