KABUL, Afghanistan, Feb 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) – At least 43 fighters, including three police personnel and a Taliban commander, were killed in fighting between government forces and the Taliban group in the country, over the past 24 hours, officials said Saturday.
Government forces stormed Taliban hideouts in parts of the restive Helmand province, over the past 24 hours, killing 12 insurgents, including Taliban eminent commander, Mullah Shir Agha, said an army statement.
Mullah Shir Agha, along with five of his armed men, were killed in Sangin district on Friday, after his hideout came under fighting aircraft’s attack, the statement said, adding, over a dozen more insurgents have been injured.
Similarly, the government has killed 13 militants and injured 12 others in Qaisar, Almar and Garziwan districts, of the northern Faryab province over the last 24 hours, said Mohamad Hanif Rezai, an army spokesman.
According to Rezai, government forces operations against the Taliban outfit have left 10 militants dead, and injured over a dozen others in Chamtal district, of the northern Balkh province since Friday.
Mohibullah Mohib, police spokesman in the western Farah province, reported killing of five militants and injuring of seven others, in the relatively volatile province over the past 24 hours.
Meanwhile, Abdul Aziz Big, head of Baghis provincial council, said that, the Taliban offensive on security checkpoints in Qadis district, early Saturday, killed three security personnel and injured five others.
Taliban spokesman, Qari Yusuf Ahmadi, in contact with media, disputed the claims made by security officials, and in counter-claim, insisted that scores of security personnel had been killed over the past 24 hours.– NNN-AGENCIES
