Massive Taliban attack repulsed in Wardak: official

KABUL (Pajhwok): Afghan security forces repulsed a massive insurgent attack on their posts in the Jalrez district of central Maidan Wardak province, an official said on Saturday.

Hundreds of Taliban gunmen stormed security posts in Khwaja Sahib area of the district on Friday morning, triggering a gunbtatle that forced the rebels to retreat and flee, the governor’s spokesman, Abdul Rahman Mangal, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He said insurgents from other districts and neighbouring Ghazni and Zabul provinces had joined their comrades in Wardak in the attack.

The attackers initially made some progress but were defeated as a result of a joint operation by security forces, he said, adding the rebels also fled from an area in Khwaja Sahib which they had previously captured.

He said the operation was still ongoing and the insurgents were being chased and targeted. About Taliban casualties, he said the yesterday clashes left Taliban district chief for Jalrez, Zahidullah, a group leader and seven others dead and as many others wounded.

He said three security personnel were also injured, but exact information about casualties in Saturday’s clashes was immediately available.

A government official in Jalrez district told Pajhwok Afghan News hundreds of insurgents attacked local police posts near the Khwaja Sahib base at about 5am on Friday. The insurgents made some advance towards the base, but later they were pushed back and forced to flee.

He put the number of Taliban killed in yesterday clashes at 15. He said fresh forces had arrived in the district.

The Taliban claimed capturing three posts in Jalrez and killing a number of security forces. Their spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid acknowledged the injuring of only three fighters.

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