Roundup: Afghan forces kill 25 militants in crackdown operation

Afghan government forces in crackdown against insurgents killed over two dozen armed militants in the northern and eastern region of the conflict-ridden country.

While militants abducted 12 civilians over the past 24 hours, officials said Thursday.

In crackdown against militants loyal to the so-called Islamic State (IS) or Daesh outfit, the government forces killed 15 armed insurgents in Achin district of the eastern Nangarhar province with Jalalabad as its capital, 120 km east of Kabul over the past 24 hours, provincial police spokesman Hazrat Hussain Mashriqwal said Thursday.

Seven more militants sustained injuries during the operation that was continuing, the official added.

The operation involving units of the national army and police began a month ago in the mountainous Achin district and would last until peace and normalcy return to the area, Mashriqwal asserted.

In similar onslaught against insurgents in the northern Baghlan province with Pul-e-Khumri as its capital, 160 km north of Kabul, 10 Taliban militants were killed on Wednesday night, deputy to provincial police chief Abdul Rashid Bashir said Thursday.

"Taliban militants launched attack on police checkpoints in Dand-e-Shahabudin locality last night and police returned fire which triggered gun battle and left 10 Taliban rebels including two foreign fighters dead," Abdul Rashid Bashir told reporters.

Three police personnel sustained injuries in the conflict, the official admitted.

Taliban militants who are active in Dand-e-Ghori and Dand-e-Shahabudin areas, some 8 km outside provincial capital Pul-e-Khumri, have yet to make comments.

Meanwhile, unknown armed men abducted 12 civilians in Sayed Karam district of the eastern Paktia province on Wednesday and took them to an unknown location.

However, Niaz Mohammad, the district governor of Sayed Karam in talks with media, blamed Taliban militants for the kidnapping, a claim the armed outfit has yet to accept. Endit