Security officials among 9 dead as attack on Charkh district ends

PUL-I-ALAM (Pajhwok): Two security personnel, seven Taliban were killed and 17 more were wounded during day-long gun battle in Charkh district of central Logar province on Thursday, an official said.

Saleem Saleh, the governor’s spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News the Taliban stormed the district centre around 05:00am on Thursday morning the attack followed a retaliatory fighting by security forces, killing at least seven militants and inflicted injuries to another 14.

Two soldiers were also killed and three others wounded, Saleh said adding the injured included the Charkh district police chief, Col. Habibullah.

The Taliban attack was neutralized at around 12:00 pm after all the attackers were gunned down. Some parts of the district building were damaged in the attack.

Meanwhile, Crime Branch Chief Col. Mohammad Jan Abid confirmed the clash had come to an end and insurgents were forced to flee the area.

He said the Charkh district police chief also wounded in the firefighting and a number of soldiers and insurgents suffered casualties as well.

Khalillah Kamal, the district administrative chief, said the clash erupted between security forces and the Taliban after a vehicle-borne suicide bomber ploughed into the wall of the district complex. The explosion followed counterattack by security forces, he added.

The Taliban confirmed the clash,  the group’s spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the district police chief and many other soldiers suffered casualties during the clash. Two Taliban fighters were also killed and three others wounded, he added.

Charkh district is situated 30km to the south of Pul-i-Alam, the provincial capital and is being considered as insecure district.

sns/nh

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