62 villages in Faryab purged of Taliban presence

MAIMANA (Pajhwok): The administrative chief for southwestern Faryab province on Sunday said 62 villages of three districts had been cleared of militants during the Navid-8 operation.

Addressing a press conference, Mohammad HamayonFawzi said Afghan security forces were able to reopen the Maimana-Mazar-i-Sharif highway and inflicted heavy casualties on Taliban over the last few days.

Also supported by NATO, the security personnel purged 62 villages in Khwaja Sabzposh, Sherin Tagab and Dawlatabad districts. At least 69 insurgents including some commanders were killed and many more wounded, he said.

He alleged the Taliban had created checkpoints on the highway, harassing passengers and local people. Three bases and 60 security posts would be created between Khwaja Sabzposh and Qarmaqol districts for highway security, he said.

Fawzipromised in Balcharagh, Garziwan and Kohistan districts would be cleared after the complete clearance of Maimana-Mazar-i-Sharif highway.

Gen. Jannat Gul Karokhel, commander of the 209^thShahin Military Corps in Faryab, said 20 Taliban militants, including a commander, were killed during a clash late on Saturday.

He said the clash took place during a clearing operation on the Maimana-Mazar-i-Sharif highway. The house of one key Taliban commander, Ihsanullah Tofan, was also torched.

A local Taliban official, who wished to go unnamed, confirmed losing several villages but denied the killing of fighters.

mds/mud