MAIMANA (Pajhwok): At least a dozen people, including two women, were killed and another 18 people were wounded after clashes erupted between gunmen loyal to Jamiat-i-Isami and Junbish-i-Isami parties in the Almar district of northwestern Faryab province, officials said on Thursday.
Maj. Mohammad Reza Rezai, the 109th Shaheen Military Corps spokesman in Faryab, told Pajhwok Afghan News a prominent Jamiat-i-Islami member and a Junbish commander Mohammad Zarif were among 10 people killed during the clashes that broke out on Wednesday.
He said the clashes erupted after Taliban militants attacked Afghan forces and fighters loyal to Gen. Farooq, a member of the Jamiat.
Both the sides were still exchanging fire using government weapons but the Afghan National Army (ANA) forces mediated and somehow prevented the clashes, he added. The possibility of fresh clashes could be prevented if government took a timely action to disarm them, he suggested.
Rezai said the Taliban would use the opportunity to deteriorate the security situation in Faryab province.
Almar district chief, Mohammad Saleh Saleh, told Pajhwok they were able to stop the clashes on Wednesday evening and handed over the bodies to their families.
Haji Khal Mirza, head of Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS), confirmed handing over eight dead bodies to relatives.
Meanwhile, Faryab public health director Dr. Maroof Samar said 14 people, including three women and two children injured in the clashes, had been shifted to the Afghan-Turk hospital in Maimana.
He said one of the women succumbed to her injuries and condition of the two others was critical. Three other people injured in the clashes were under treatment at Almar clinic, he said.
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