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Roundup: 30 militants killed in S. Afghanistan, gov't forces attempting to retake Darqad in north

Xinhua, December 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

Up to 30 Taliban militants have been killed and 15 others injured as clashes erupted in Khanshin district in Taliban's former stronghold - Helmand province since Thursday night, police spokesman in the province, Shah Mohammad Ashna said Friday.

"Taliban rebels launched massive offensive against security checkpoints in Qala-e-Naw area of Khanshin district Thursday night, but security forces resisted leaving 30 armed rebels dead and 15 others injured," Ashna told Xinhua.

The insurgents, after two hours of gun battle, fled and the security forces have been chasing them to ensure lasting peace there, the official added.

There were no casualties on security personnel, the official said.

Meanwhile, Taliban militants in an online statement confirmed the clashes in Khanshin district, claiming that the Taliban fighters have destroyed an armored vehicle and a security checkpoint, besides inflicting casualties to the security personnel.

The government forces have also recaptured some 40 percent of Darqad district of Takhar province over the past four days.

"Since launching the operations in Darqad district four days ago, some 30 Taliban fighters have been killed and injured, and the government forces have cleansed around 40 percent of the district from the insurgents," Takhar police spokesman Abdul Khalil Asir said.

Taliban militants who captured Darqad district some two months ago have yet to make comments.

The security forces also killed three Taliban fighters in Chapa Dara district of eastern Kunar province on Thursday, provincial police chief Abdul Habib Sayedkhili told reporters.

Both the Taliban and government forces have been doing their best to gain more grounds and consolidate their positions ahead of snowfall in the mountainous country. Enditem