More than 100 Taliban arrested in Faryab offensive: Dostum

MAIMANA (Pajhwok): First Vice-President Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum, spearheading an offensive in northwestern Faryab province, claimed on Saturday 120 Taliban had been arrested.

During the operation,involving gunship helicopters, notorious Taliban commanders Hameedullah, Akhund, Abdul Malik and Amanullah had been detained, he said.

At least 20 villages in Khwaja Sabz Posh district have been cleared of insurgents, according to the VP, who is also a dreaded Uzbek commander. Scores of fighters were wounded in clashes with security personnel, who seized two anti-aircraft guns, one mortar launcher and one machinegun.

Dostum, who heads the Junbish-i-Islami party, said hundreds of foreign rebels had fled the area and security forces were chasing them. He acknowledged two security personnel were killed during the ongoing offensive.

“In line with the decision of the National Security Council, I am in northern Afghanistan to lead the anti-Taliban offensive and protect the region from insurgents.”

But the Taliban claimed inflicting heavy causalities on Dostum-led security forces in Khwaja Sabz Posh district. Their spokesman Qari Yousaf Ahmadi said the fighters had made a tactical retreat from the area. He rejected Dostum’s assertion of nabbing 120 Taliban fighters.

nh/mud

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