Roundup: 190 Taliban killed in Afghan northern Kunduz province, 23 others surrender: official

A total of 190 Taliban militants have been killed over the past 13 days of heavy fighting in Kunduz province with Kunduz city as its capital, 250 km north of Kabul, while 23 others laid down arms and surrendered on Wednesday, provincial governor Mohammad Omar Safi said.

"The terrorists' attempts to capture Kunduz city have been defeated and the rebels run away after suffering heavy casualties, " Safi said in a press conference Wednesday afternoon here.

"Twenty three militants under Sheikh Zahid surrendered to the security forces and handed over their weapons to police Wednesday, " the governor said.

The governor also called upon Taliban militants to give up fighting and resume their normal life in society.

However, he said that foreign fighters won't be pardoned.

Talking to reporters, Sheikh Zahid expressed repentance from his past and called upon his former comrades to give up fighting and reintegrate into the society.

Taliban militants fighting the government to regain power launched their so-called annual spring offensive on April 24 and have since then attacked government interests in different parts of the country including Kunduz.

A total of 210 people including 190 Taliban militants and 20 security personnel have been killed in the ongoing fighting in the northern Kunduz province over the past 13 days, governor Safi said.

"Security forces have killed 190 Taliban rebels including several foreign nationals and scores others were injured over the past 13 years of conflict across the Kunduz province," Safi told reporters in a press conference here.

He also confirmed that 20 security personnel had lost their lives and 30 others sustained injuries over the said period.

More than 200 civilians sustained injuries over the past 13 days of conflicts and more than 10,000 families have been displaced and shifted to safer places, the governor asserted.

Meantime, Zabihullah Mujahid, who claims to speak for the Taliban outfit in contact with media spurned the governor claim of having killed 190 insurgents and surrendered 23 more militants as baseless.

However, he confirmed losing several fighters in the ongoing conflict, but insisted that they had inflicted huge casualties to government forces in Kunduz province.

Warring sides in Afghanistan often exaggerate the casualties of opponent side and it is difficult to verify with independent sources.

Meanwhile, Kunduz residents confirmed Taliban defeat around Kunduz city, but saying sporadic fighting is still continuing in Gortipa, Imam Sahib and Chardara districts. Endi