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Roundup: Clash continues in Afghan N. Kunduz province, gov't forces recapture district in south

Xinhua, April 26, 2015 Adjust font size:

Heavy clash has been continuing in the northern Kunduz province as 43 insurgents and eight security personnel have lost their lives over the past two days, a local official said Sunday.

"Clash between Taliban rebels and security forces has claimed the lives of 51 people including 43 insurgents and eight security personnel since Saturday," spokesman for Kunduz provincial government, Abdul Wasi Basil told Xinhua.

He also admitted that 16 more security personnel had been injured in the clash which is still going on in Gortipa area, and that the security personnel have vacated from parts of Gortipa area.

"The security forces made technical retreat from parts of Gortipa area to save the lives of civilians," Basil told Xinhua, adding the security forces would soon launch operations to ensure law and order there.

Meantime, Zamarai Paikan, the commander of Public Order Police Force who visited Kunduz and reviewed the situation in talks with reporters said that dozen of the armed militants including a foreign insurgent woman had been killed.

"The national security forces won't allow enemies to take foothold in Kunduz," Paikan told reporters.

On the other hand, Zabihullah Mujahid who claims to speak for the Taliban outfit in contact with media, claimed inflicted huge losses to the government forces including capturing 55 security personnel, a claim rebuffed by the officials as baseless.

Taliban militants fighting the government launched their so- called annual spring offensive from April 24 and since then have launched several offensives in parts of the conflict-ridden country including Kunduz but have failed to make breakthrough.

Moreover, local media on Sunday reported recapturing of Nawa district in Ghazni province with Ghazni city as its capital 125 km south of the national capital Kabul.

The security forces, after launching multi-pronged and well- coordinated attacks against Taliban militants in Nawa district, recaptured the strategic area, local media quoted deputy governor of Ghazni province Mohammad Ali Ahmadi as saying.

Conflicts usually get momentum in spring and summer in Afghanistan commonly known as fighting season among Afghans. Endi