Roundup: Afghan conflicts claim 18 lives in 2 days

Afghan conflicts and militancy have claimed 18 lives and injured seven others over the past two days, officials said Sunday.

In the latest violent incident, a bomb blast claimed the life of a teacher in Trinkot, the provincial capital of Uruzgan, on Sunday, police confirmed.

"A bobby trap planted by militants in front of the house of teacher Abdul Qayum in Khanaqa locality, Trinkot city exploded today morning, killing the teacher on the spot," acting provincial police chief Gulab Khan told reporters.

Condemning the blast, Khan said that Qayum was an innocent civilian and had served the people by teaching children in a local school.

Although no group has claimed responsibility, the official put the attack on the enemies of peace, a term referring to Taliban militants, for organizing the deadly blast.

Earlier, the Defense Ministry said 15 militants and two army personnel were killed across the war-ravaged country over the past 24 hours.

"A total of 15 terrorists have been killed and seven others injured over the past 24 hours," Defense Ministry Spokesman Zahir Azimi said in his twitter account.

Meanwhile, Taliban militants have claimed killing over a dozen security personnel since Saturday in the country.

The armed outfit in a website said that over a dozen security personnel had been killed over the past 24 hours, a claim rebuffed by of officials as baseless propaganda.

Since warring sides in Afghanistn exaggerate the casualties of opponents in battle grounds, it is difficult to verify casualties from independent sources.

Taliban-led militancy and conflicts often get new momentum in Afghanistan with the herald of spring when the weather gets warm. Endi