Poised to attack, 5 Taliban killed in Jawzjan airstrike

SHIBERGHAN (Pajhwok): Five Taliban insurgent have been killed and three others wounded in air strikes in Aqcha district of northern Jawzjan province, police said on Wednesday.

Police chief Brig. Gen. Rahmatullah Turkistan told Pajhwok Afghan News that security forces targeted militant hideouts in Haidarabad area of the district on Tuesday night.

He said a clash between security forces and Taliban also erupted during the airstrikes lasted one hour. The militants wanted to carry out insurgent attacks but they were prevented by air raids.

According to the police chief, the slain rebels were loyal to Mualvi Sunnatullah, the Taliban’s shadowy governor for Jawzjan.

Governor’s spokesman Mohammad Reza Ghafori said two Taliban fighters surrendered to security forces with their weapons in Haidarabad area.

He quoted the surrendering rebels as saying the Taliban had no ability to fight face to face with security forces.

Ghafori said the clearing operation was going well and areas were being purged of rebels one after another. However, a Taliban’s spokesman denied air strikes had taken place in Haidarabad area.

The operation against militants launched six days ago in Aqcha district is still underway, with security officials saying so far at least eight villages have been cleared of militants.

sa/ma

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