PUL-I-KHUMRI (Pajhwok): Sixteen Taliban insurgents have been killed during separate clashes with security and uprising forces in northern Baghlan province, sources said on Sunday.
The provincial National Directorate of Security office in a statement said 12 Taliban fighters were killed during an operation in Chashma Sher area near Pul-i-Khumri, the provincial capital.
It said another eight rebels wounded in the operation, with the security forces confiscating a large amount of weapons and ammunition.
Separately, four Taliban militants were killed during a clash with hundreds of uprising forces in Nahrin district last night, said Baghlan police chief Brig. Gen. Ikramuddin Sari.
Another three rebels were wounded in the firefight, he said.
A resident of the district, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the Taliban wanted to attack the district bazaar and the government was silent about their activities, forcing local residents to fight.
He said nearly 200 uprising forces took part in the battle with Taliban insurgents who were forced to retreat.
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