Roundup: Drone strikes kill 31 militants in Afghanistan

The unmanned planes have proved deadly weapons in the war on terror in Afghanistan as 31 anti-government armed insurgents including Taliban and fighters loyal to the Islamic State (IS) group have been killed since Saturday, officials said Sunday.

In drone strike against Taliban militants, eight Taliban fighters including a group commander were killed Saturday night in the northern Kunduz province, an army spokesman in the province Ghulam Hazrat Karimi said Sunday.

"Acting upon intelligence report drone attack conducted against Taliban in Turki village of Dasht-e-Archi district late Saturday night killing eight rebels including their commander Qari Ali on the spot," Karimi told Xinhua.

Similar drone attack against militants in the eastern Nangarhar province had killed 23 militants loyal to Islamic State outfit, 201 Selab Military Corps said in a statement Sunday.

According to the statement, the drone strikes were carried out in Mohmandara, Mazdaki and Abdulkhail villages in Achin district on Saturday night during which up to 23 IS fighters had been killed and a weapon cache destroyed.

Spokesman for Nangarhar provincial governor Attaullah Khogiani has also confirmed drone attacks on IS fighters in Achin district, saying huge casualties inflicted to the militants there.

No civilian has been hurt during the strikes, the official asserted.

Meantime, locals as well as officials believe that the pilotless plane is an effective weapon in the war against militants in Afghanistan.

A Kunduz resident, Mohammad Khan, hailed drone strike in the war against Taliban, saying drone attack is more effective than launching costly cleanup operations.

Spokesman for Defense Ministry Dawlat Waziri has also confirmed the effectiveness of drone attacks, saying the drone strike has proved significant in the war against enemies in Afghanistan. Endit