Top officials rescued from Taliban ambush

FAIZABAD (Pajhwok): Authorities in the northeastern Badakhshan province announced an end to Taliban’s siege of top officials with the killing of three militants on Monday evening.

Ahmad Naveed Frotan, spokesman for the governor, told Pajhwok Afghan News Governor Shah Waliullah Adib, police chief and other officials were besieged on their way to Jurm district centre.

He said four members of the security force were injured in fighting near Ali Mughal Bridge. Three militants were killed and four others wounded. He added the governor and his colleagues escaped unhurt in the incident.

Local sources said that air support from the Afghan National Army (ANA) helped the governor and his convoy. Some injured officials were airlifted to the Faizabad Civil Hospital.

Earlier in the day, the governor’s spokesman said that a ground and air offensive against the militants in the Dahn-e-Khushk area of the district was about to start to flush out militants.

The Taliban, meanwhile, claimed killing four soldiers in Jurm.

sks/mud

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