5 rebels killed, 6 injured in Nangarhar skirmish

JALALABAD/MAIDAN SHAHR (Pajhwok):  Five insurgents were killed and six others wounded during a clash with security forces in the Pacheragam district of eastern Nangarhar province, an official said on Tuesday.

The clash broke out late on Monday when the armed rebels attacked security forces patrolling in the area, Nangarhar police spokesman Col. Hazrat Hussain Mashriqiwal told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He said five attackers were killed and six others were injured after the forces returned fire. The clash lasted two hours, he said, adding the security forces escaped unhurt.

There has been no word from the Taliban about the clash.

In central Maidan Wardak province, a rebel commander has been arrested by security forces during an operation in the Syedabad district.

Attaullah Khogyani, the governor’s spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News commander Mukhlis Haqyar was arrested in the Yuousafkhel area on Monday night during the joint operation of Afghan forces.

Security forces also seized three jerry canes filled with explosives, a balloon and two remotely controlled hand grenades in the Qatar Sang area of Maidan Shahr, the provincial capital, he said.

Khogyani said insurgents had torched a private telecom company’s tower and stormed a Darul Uloom (seminary) in Desht-i-Thop area of Syedabad. He said two employees of the telecom firm had been arrested and were being questioned.  He said an MTN tower in the area was unaffected in the arson attack.  The rebels shattered mirrors of the seminary building in their assault.

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