15 civilians among 22 dead in Ghazni, Laghman attacks

GHAZNI CITY/MEHTARLAM (Pajhwok): Eleven members of an uprising group and seven insurgents died in a fierce gunbattle in southern Ghazni province on Thursday, the gubernatorial spokesman said.

Shafiq Nang told Pajhwok Afghan News the insurgents mounted an attack on a check-post of the uprising group in the Alam Walu locality of Andar district early in the morning.

Six members of the anti-Taliban group and as many militants were wounded in the ensuing firefight, he said, adding security forces had sent reinforcements to the area.

Noorullah, an eyewitness, said 11 members of the uprising group and several Taliban were killed in the clash. The area, is now under the control of police. However, Taliban have not yet comment on the incident.

Separately, a policeman was among four people killed in a bomb blast in Mehtarlam, the capital of eastern Laghman province on Thursday, the governor’s spokesman Sarhadi Zwak said.

The explosion took place at around 8:30 am in the Misri Kala area of the city. The blast, he said, was triggered by a landmine placed on a road to target a police vehicle. Three civilians and a policeman were killed in the explosion.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said insurgents attacked the check post of Afghan local police, leaving 14 policemen dead and four others wounded.

However, he did not share details about casualties suffered by militants in the firefight.

rm/mud

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