KUNDUZ CITY/KABUL (PAN): Seven insurgents were killed and four members of the Tahir Yaldeshev-led Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) caught alive during an overnight operation in the increasing volatile northern province of Kunduz.

Governor Eng. Muhammad Omar told Pajhwok Afghan News on Friday the operation was jointly conducted by Afghan and NATO-led forces in Chahar Dara district. A Taliban commander named Mullah Omer was among the seven fighters killed in the crackdown.

But the Chahar Dara district chief claimed three civilians were killed during the joint sweep conducted late Thursday night. Contradicting the gubernatorial claim, Abdul Wahid Omerkhel identified the victims as former Hezb-i-Islami commander Haji Taimoor Shah, his spouse and child.

Meanwhile, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said the combined force searched a compound suspected of being used by IMU militants operating in the region.

The troops received fire from the insurgents positioned in different locations, engaged and killed several of them. ISAF said in a statement. One civilian was caught in the crossfire and suffered a gunshot wound to the arm. 

The security forces uncovered several rocket-propelled grenades, seven assault rifles, multiple grenades and chest racks. "Among the enemy dead was a female militant who engaged the force, armed with an assault rifle and wearing a full chest rack of ammunition."

According to the ISAF statement, the force detained a suspected militant and evacuated the wounded civilian to a military hospital for medical treatment.

In southern Kandahar province, the combined force searched a location just west of Kandahar City in pursuit of a Taliban element known to finance and transport weapons and supplies into the region. The forced detained six suspected militants.

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