Roundup: Afghan forces eliminate 58 militants in cleanup operations

Afghan security during series of cleanup operations across the militancy-plagued country have killed 58 Taliban militants, Interior Ministry said in a statement released here on Monday.

"Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) have carried out series of operations to sweep out militants and enemies of peace and stability of Afghanistan. The operations which have covered parts of Nangarhar, Nuristan, Kunduz, Faryab, Jawzjan, Balkh, Kandahar, Paktika, Badghis and Helmand provinces, have killed 58 armed insurgents," the statement asserted.

According to the statement, 10 more insurgents wounded and six others have been captured.

The security forces have also seized huge quantity of arms and ammunition during the raids, according to the statement.

Meantime, Taliban militants who have been fighting to gain more grounds and consolidate their positions ahead of harsh winter, in the latest onslaught against government interests, stormed Jarm district in Badakhshan province with Faizabad as its capital, 315 km northeast of Kabul on Monday.

"Taliban outfit launched massive offensive against security forces in Jarm district with the objective to capture the district headquarters on Monday morning. Security forces returned fire and clash has been continuing," district police chief, Mohammad Amin told Xinhua.

However, the official couldn't provide details on the possible casualties, but locals said that both sides suffered casualties.

In a related incident, the armed insurgents attacked a house in Bazaar-e-Kohna locality of Yangi Qala district in Takhar province late Sunday night leaving three civilians including a child and a woman dead, police spokesman in the province, Abdul Khalil Aseer told Xinhua.

Both the Taliban and government forces, according to local observers have been fighting hard to grain more grounds and consolidate their positions ahead of snowfall in the mountainous country. Enditem