Competing claims as govt forces, Taliban clash in Nangarhar

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): The governor said on Friday 37 Taliban insurgents were killed in airstrikes and ambushes in Khogyani and Sherzad districts of eastern Nangarhar province, but the Taliban denied the claim, saying 20 government soldiers were killed in Sherzad district.

Governor Zia-ul-Haq Amarkhel said the bodies of Taliban insurgents remained in Zawa area of ​​Khogyani district after they were killed in airstrikes and ambushes by government forces since last night.

Khogyani district chief Mohammad Ayub Bahar told Pajhwok Afghan News that security forces were now busy collecting bodies of Taliban insurgents in the area.

Amarkhel also said that six Taliban insurgents were killed in Sherzad district.

But Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed 20 government troops had been killed in Sherzad district.

Mujahid wrote on his Twitter account that the Taliban attacked government forces in Kundi area of ​​Sherzad district, killing 20 and wounding several others.

But the Nangarhar provincial media office denied government forces suffered any casualties in Sherzad district.

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