28 Taliban rebels killed in Takhar operation

TALOQAN (Pajhwok): At least 28 Taliban insurgents including some of the rebel commanders have been killed and 18 others wounded during an operation in northern Takhar province, officials said Wednesday.

Col. Sayed Qurban Musavi, commander of 217 Pamir Military Corps told Pajhwok Afghan News that an operation of Afghan forces was underway in Dasht Kala district of Takhar from the last few days.

He said 28 Taliban rebels were killed and 18 others wounded during a fight in Shahr-i-Kohna area on Tuesday night.

Taliban’s designated governor for Baharak district, Mulavi Abdul Razaq and the insurgent group’s commanders, Dost Mohammad Mesbah, Usmani, Mullah Noor and Mullah Hamza were among the dead.

“These rebels had destabilized Mawra-i-Kukcha area and Dasht Kala district,” he said.

Takhar governor’s spokesman, Jawad Hajri, told Pajhwok that Afghan forces recaptured huge areas from Taliban in Dasht Kala district.

“Afghan forces would build two new bases in Dasht Kala district in the near future,” he said.

Taliban did not comment about conflict in Dasht Kala district.

However, the Taliban’s spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid on last Monday said that their fighters hit an Afghan National Army (ANA) tank with a bomb.

He had said that the tank was destroyed and four ANA soldiers onboard were killed in the incident.

The recent conflicts in Dasht Kala district forced around 2,000 families to leave their homes and take refuge in safe areas.

mds