1st LD Writethru: Afghan forces kick off anti-militants operations in northern province

Afghan national security forces launched anti-militants operations in the northern Kunduz province on Tuesday to ensure lasting peace there, an army spokesman in the province, Ghulam Hazrat Karimi said.

"Units of security forces backed by aircrafts launched major operations in several villages outside provincial capital the Kunduz city today morning to wipe out militants and ensure lasting peace there," Karimi told Xinhua.

Since launching the operations several anti-vehicles, anti-personal mines, and explosive devices have been discovered and defused, the official said, adding the militants have offered resistance in Bozi-Kandahari area but run away after suffering casualties.

Taliban militants briefly captured Kunduz city, the capital of Kunduz province 250 km north of Kabul in October and have presence in parts of the strategically important province which borders Tajikistan. They have not commented on the situation.

The anti-militants operations which launched Tuesday morning would continue for unspecific period, Karimi said.

Afghan Defense Ministry announced recently to keep on pressure on militants elsewhere in the country throughout the winter. Endit