Afghanistan Times
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AT Monitoring Desk-KABUL: More than 30 Taliban militants have been killed by the brave Afghan security forces last night (Friday night) in violent clashes and airstrikes carried out in Andar district of southern Ghazni province, where conflict has been entered a third day, an official said.
Late on Wednesday night, the Taliban militants first carried out a car bombing and then attacked security posts, killing 22 security personnel and five civilians.
It was feared until yesterday that the district would fall to the insurgents, but on Thursday evening, airstrikes were conducted before the commando forces reaching the conflict zone, local official said.
Provincial Governor Spokesman, Arif Noori, told Pajhwok Afghan News that fresh security forces, including commandos, had reached the Andar district last night.
He said last night military operations and airstrikes had resulted into the killing of 30 Taliban insurgents in the district.
He added the killed militants included some Pakistanis and their notorious commanders as well, adding, irregular exchange of firing continued in Andar till Friday.
He furthered, more troops were expected to be deployed to Andar today (Saturday). He said since Thursday two security forces have been martyred and nine others injured.
Moreover, Andar District Chief, Mohammad Qasim Desiwal had told Pajhwok that the Taliban militants captured three security posts on Thursday.
“But the reinforcement reached last night and the district was rescued from falling,” the official said.
He added they had been besieged by the insurgents for the last two days amid fierce clashes because the reinforcement could not reach them in-time.
On the other hand, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said dozens of policemen were killed and wounded in the attacks in Andar district. He claimed that rebels were careful in their raids to avoid civilian casualties.
He admitted the killing of three insurgents in clashes with security forces and the district remained besieged by the militants.
