Kunduz: 10 Taliban killed in Chardara operation

KUNDUZ (Pajhwok): At least 10 Taliban militants have been killed and five others wounded in a clearing operation Chardara district of northern Kunduz province, an official said on Tuesday.

The operation was conducted on Monday, said Brig. Gen Sayed Musavi, the Afghan military’s 20^th division commander in the north.

He told Pajhwok Afghan News that 10 militants including some key commanders were killed and five others were injured in the offensive.

Ten villages were cleared of Taliban’s presence, said Musavi, adding the security forces escaped unhurt in the operation that also resulted in confiscation of some weapons.

Qutratullah, a resident of Shikhak locality, said a lot of Taliban affiliates had emerged in the village, but they were driven in the recently conducted military operation. He had no information about casualties.

The Taliban have not yet commented about the operation in Chardara, an unstable district where the rebels have been in control in most parts over the past few years.

Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, claimed in a tweet that the fighters killed 20 Afghan National Army (ANA) personnel in their attacks.

pk/ma