8 insurgents dead, 15 wounded in clashes & airstrikes

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Eight Taliban, including two notorious commanders, have been killed and 15 others wounded in clashes and air raids in eastern Laghman and Nuristan provinces, officials said on Tuesday.

Col. Sherin Agha Faqiri, spokesman for the 201^st Selab Military Corps, said Afghan Air Force helicopters pounded Taliban positions in the Du Aab district of Nuristan Monday night.

He said eight Taliban, including their commanders, were killed and a dozen others wounded in the air raids. However, he stopped short of naming the insurgent commanders

Col. Faqir added three fighters were wounded in an overnight clash with security forces in the Alingar district of Laghman. The security personnel patrolling the area escaped unhurt in the clash.

The Taliban have not commented on the incident, but the group said in a statement on its website the rebels had a firefight with Afghan Local Police (ALP)in Nuristan.

nh/mud