KABUL, Feb 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) – More than 90 militants have been confirmed dead, over the past two days, as Afghan forces intensified air raids against the Taliban group in the country, amid stalled peace talks in Doha, officials said yesterday.
In the latest wave of air attacks, the Afghan fighting planes struck a Taliban hideout in Aqtepa area of Charbolak district, in the northern Balkh province, killing 11 insurgents, including three local commanders, army spokesman in the northern region, Mohammad Hanif Rezai, said.
According to the official, the sorties were launched at 01:25 p.m. local time yesterday, killing 11 militants and destroying a number of motorbikes used by the militants.
Similarly, airstrikes on the same area of Charbolak district, a day earlier on Wednesday, left 31 insurgents dead, Rezai added.
According to the official, similar air attacks, Wednesday, against Taliban fighters in the Aqtepa’s neighbouring Gortepa village, killed 26 militants.
Afghan forces’ airstrikes also targeted Taliban militants in Nawa, Nahr-e-Saraj and Garmsir districts, of southern Helmand province, on Wednesday, killing 27 armed insurgents, including two group commanders, namely Hanzala and Barakat, said an army statement.
A Taliban purported spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, without making comments on the claims made by the officials, said that, Taliban militants are capable enough to defend their positions.
Fighting increases amid standstill in peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban representatives in Qatar’s capital, Doha.
The second round of intra-Afghan talks, which resumed on Jan 6 in Doha, has stalled. According to local media reports, no meeting has been held over the past 25 days.– NNN-AGENCIES
