Pakistanis among 136 rebels killed in Dangam

ASADABAD (Pajhwok): At least 136 militants have been killed during airstrikes and a ground offensive by the Afghan National Army (ANA) in the Dangam district of eastern Kunar province, officials said on Tuesday.

Lt. Haroon Yousufzai, spokesman for the 201^st Selab Military Corps, told Pajhwok Afghan News that dozens of militants suffered casualties during air raids by NATO-led forces in the district over the past two days.

He said ANA troops were making significant headway in flushing out militants. At least 136 rebels, including 17 Pakistanis, have been killed and 138 others wounded, Yousufzai said. One ANA officer was also killed and another wounded.

But Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid rejected the claim as baseless. He said none of the militant had suffered casualties during the overnight operation.

Some 10 days ago, hundreds of militants stormed Dangam, leaving a large number of residents besieged. The brazen attack prompted Afghan security forces to launch an all-out offensive in the town near the Pakistan border.

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