Taliban kill 30 civilians in a week: NSC

KABUL militants killed at least 30 civilians within a week in various parts of the country, said the National Security Council (NSC) on Sunday.

Javed Faisal, NSC spokesman, wrote on his twitter account that the Taliban killed 30 civilians in Balkh, Ghazni, Farah, Kuduz,Kandahar,Logar, Maidan Wardak , Nuristan and Herat provinces during the last seven days.  

Faisal added: "Most of the civilian deaths resulted from roadside bombings. In order to advance peace talks, the rebels must cease fire so no civilians are harmed in the country.”

But Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied the government's claim in a tweet, saying "they do not target civilians anywhere; It is the government and American troops who attack civilians in the country.”

According to a Ministry of Defense statement, the Taliban were unable to fight on the battlefield and thus in search of soft targets.

The ministry said dozens of insurgents were killed in airstrikes in northeastern Badakhshan province where civilians suffered no casualties.

bkma