Roundup: Afghan militancy gets impetus, scores killed within 24 hours

KABUL, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Insurgency and counter-insurgency have got momentum in the war-battered Afghanistan since the so-called annual spring offensive was launched by Taliban on Wednesday.

According to security officials, scores of militants have been killed and many others sustained injuries in different parts of the country over the past 24 hours, as the militant group has launched multi-pronged and well-coordinated offensives against security forces in the country.

The Taliban group launched massive offensive against government forces in the strategically important Qala-e-Zal district in the northern Kunduz province at 02:00 a.m. local time Saturday and since then fierce fighting has been continuing and both sides have suffered casualties, according to officials.

In a similar offensive, the militant group has overrun two police checkpoints in Khawja Ghar district of the neighboring Takhar province early Saturday, forcing police to retreat, police spokesman in the province, Abdul Khali Asir admitted.

However, Taliban offensive for the capture of Burka district in the northern Baghlan province has been foiled and the militants, after leaving five bodies behind, fled the area, army spokesman in the northern region Mohammad Hanif Rezai said.

The armed opposition group has also conducted massive offensives in parts of Badakhshan and Faryab provinces over the past 24 hours, but failed to make headway, according to security officials.

Meanwhile, Zabihullah Majahid who claims to speak for the Taliban outfit in contact with media outlets has claimed killing scores of security personnel and capturing grounds over the past 24 hours.

Rejecting the Taliban claim as groundless, Afghan defense ministry officials said that some 100 militants had been killed and scores of others injured over the period. Enditem