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Roundup: 7 Afghan Taliban including shadowy governor killed, 5 captured

Xinhua, November 25, 2015 Adjust font size:

Afghan security forces during series of operations against Taliban militants killed seven armed insurgents including a shadowy district governor and captured five others including a Taliban appointed district chief on Wednesday, officials said.

In latest crackdown against the Taliban fighters, government forces launched cleanup operations in Khawja Bahawadin district of the northern Takhar province with Taluqan city as its capital 245 km north of Kabul early Wednesday and have killed seven Taliban fighters including a shadowy district governor, police spokesman in the province Sunatullah Timori said.

"Security forces launched cleanup operations in Khawja Bahawadin district Wednesday morning and so far seven militants including Taliban shadowy governor Lang Kamal and group commander Mullah Abdul Rahim have been killed," Timori told Xinhua.

Four more insurgents sustained injuries in the fighting which is continuing, according to the official.

The official also admitted that two police personnel have received injuries in the clash.

Timori added that the government forces would soon launch massive offensive to recapture Darqad district from Taliban militants.

Taliban militants, who captured Darqad district along the border with Tajikistan a couple of weeks ago, have yet to make comment.

In a similar blow dealt to the Taliban outfit on Wednesday, five Taliban fighters including a shadowy governor were captured in the eastern Logar province with Pul-e-Alam as its capital 60 km south of the capital of Kabul city, spokesman for provincial government, Salim Saleh, said.

"Acting upon intelligence report, the security forces stormed Taliban hideout in Khoshi district of Logar province early Wednesday and captured five rebels including shadowy district governor Mullah Hamidullah and local Taliban commander Alam Jan," Sahel told Xinhua.

Taliban militants who are active in parts of Logar province and have speeded up their activities over the past couple of months across the conflict-hit country are yet to make comment.

Both the Taliban militants and government forces have been fighting tooth and nail to gain more grounds and consolidate their positions ahead of snowfall in the mountainous country. Endit