Roundup: 45 militants killed in N. Afghanistan in 2 days

Up to 45 anti-government militants have been killed in Afghanistan's northern Jauzjan and Badakhshan provinces over the past two days as government forces crackdown has been continuing in the said areas, officials said Thursday.

The government forces onslaught against Taliban fighters in Qoshtapa district of the northern Jauzjan province have claimed the lives of 21 armed insurgents since Wednesday, an army spokesman in the province, Reza Rezae said.

"The security forces launched cleanup operations in Qoshtapa district early Wednesday and so far 21 armed rebels have been killed and three others injured," Rezae told Xinhua.

He also admitted that a security personnel had been killed and two others sustained injuries as the operation is continuing in the area.

Similar crackdown against militants in parts of Badakhshan province has left two dozen insurgents death over the past two days, spokesman for Badakhshan provincial administration, Ahmad Nawed Frotan said.

During the operations which have covered parts of Argu, Jarm, Teshkan and Tagab districts, over a dozen more militants sustained injuries.

Tagab and Teshkan districts have been cleansed of militants, the official contended.

Taliban militants who have been fighting to regain power and are active in several parts of the conflict-wracked country, are yet to make comment.

However, Taliban fighters, according to local observers would further speed up activities amid the ongoing peace efforts to have upper hand if agreed to sit on negotiating table with Afghan government.

The third round of four-nation talks - Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States - was held in Islamabad on Feb. 6 in Islamabad to encourage Taliban to join the peace process, and the fourth round of the talks would be held in Kabul next week. Enditem