20 Taliban killed in Paktika

SHARAN (PAN insurgents have been killed in two separate operations by Afghan and foreign troops in the southeastern province of Paktika, officials said on Tuesday.

Sixteen fighters were killed in clashes with a joint force of Afghan National Army and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) personnel in Pirkoti area of Urugoon district on Monday night, the governor’s spokesman, Mukhlis Afghan, told Pajhwok Afghan News. Several others militants were wounded in the ground and air offensive, he said.

Sher Jan, a resident, said foreign forces bombed a mountainous area in Pirkoti last night, but he had no information about casualties.

Separately, four Taliban fighters were killed on Tuesday in a separate operation in Malayan village of Mata Khan district.

According to Afghan, a rocket launcher, two Kalashnikovs, seven hand grenades, two motorcycles were recovered from the insurgents.

A resident of the village, Shah Mohammad, said he saw two dead bodies at the scene. However, he was unable to recognise weather they were Taliban or civilians.

myn/ma