Civilians among 25 killed in Faryab clashes

MAIMANA (Pajhwok): Two civilians, 15 militants and eight policemen have been killed during clashes in the Qaisar district of northwestern Faryab province as part of the Shakh Bazaar fell to the Taliban, officials said on Monday.

Governor Mohammad Ullah Batash told Pajhwok Afghan News 15 rebels were killed and 17 others wounded during the past two days after hundreds of insurgents mounted an attack on the district bazaar. He confirmed the killing of eight Afghan Local Police (ALP) personnel.

The 209^th Shahin Military Corps spokesman, Maj. Mohammad Reza Reza, said that Afghan National Police (ANP) and ALP had left the Shakh area and the Afghan National Army (ANA) was engaged in the fight.

He said that half of the Bazaar Shakh area was came under the Taliban control and more than 2,000 residents have forced to flee from the area as result of offensive.

He said two civilians were killed and four others, including two children and two women, were injured in a roadside bombing in Qaisar.

The victims were members of an ANA commander who were fleeing the area to escape the fighting in Qaisar district centre, he said, adding Taliban had cut telecommunication towers in the area.

Abdul Baqi Hashimi, provincial council secretary, said that hundreds of families were moved to Khwaja Kanti area of Qaisar district due to insecurity.

“ALP and ANP have fought with bravely against Taliban, but ALP has lost their eight personal when they faced weapons’ shortage and delay in reinforcement from ANA forces,” he added.

Taliban Spokesman Qari Yusuf Ahmadi claimed that the entire Shakh bazaar area was militants’ control. Seven Afghan policemen were killed and their weapons were seized in the clashes, he claimed.

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