Policemen among 7 killed in Paktika, Helmand attacks

SHARAN (Pajhwok): Five Taliban and two policemen have been killed and a notorious rebel commander wounded in fresh violence in southeastern Paktika and southern Helmand provinces, officials said on Saturday.

Pakika governor’s spokesman Mohammad Rahman Ayaz told Pajhwok Afghan News the rebels shot dead two policemen and wounded a civilian in the Amberkhel locality of Sharan, the provincial capital, on Friday night.

Mohammad Nasim, a resident of the area, confirmed the incident and said Taliban shot dead two policemen in front of their houses and wounded an Afghan Local Police official and a resident late last night.

The dead policemen severing in Yahyakhel district were going home on leave. Mohammad Noor, brother of one the dead, said the two policemen were coming home when they came under ambush.

He urged the government to find his brother’s killers and give them exemplary punishment.

Separately, five fighters were killed and notorious commander Mullah Mubarez wounded during a clash in the Kamparak area of Nahr-i-Saraj district of Helmand late on Friday night.

The governor’s spokesman, Omar Zwak, said civilians and security forces suffered no causalities in the battle.

Helmand is one of the most unstable provinces of the country where six of the 13 districts are under government control, with the rest being controlled by the insurgents.

Taliban have not yet commented about the incidents but claimed the fighters attacked the Ziarook district Paktika and killed a policeman.

pk/mud