Afghan forces capture Taliban bastion in S. Afghanistan
Xinhua, February 7, 2015 Adjust font size:
Afghan security forces after three weeks of heavy operations have liberated Band-e- Timor area, a Taliban bastion and poppy hub in the southern Kandahar province, a senior security official in the province, Sultan Mohammad, said Saturday.
"Our security forces after three weeks of operations have entered Band-e-Timor and established government control there after 14 years, forcing Taliban militants to flee," Mohammad told Xinhua.
Located in Maiwand district, the densely populated Band-e-Timor had been a Taliban bastion and center of poppy production, heroin lab and transit route for smuggling of the menace abroad.
"A total of 13 Taliban insurgents including Mullah Shah Wali, the shadowy governor of Band-e-Timor, have been killed and 10 others injured during the operations," the official said, adding operations would continue till establishing law and order in the area.
Commenting on security forces casualties, Sultan Mohammad said one Afghan soldier has been killed.
Three heroin labs and 10 weapon caches have also been discovered and destroyed during the operations, the official further said.
Taliban militants have yet to make comment. Endi