KABUL (PAN): The spokesman for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) Thursday announced 35 civilians have so far been killed during an ongoing military offensive in the Marja district of southern Helmand province.

The joint operation in Marjah and Nad Ali district of the volatile province involves thousands of Afghan and international troops. The operation codenamed as Moshtarak was launched two weeks ago to capture areas under Taliban control.

Without saying who killed the civilians, General Zahir Azeemi told a press conference in Kabul on Thursday that Afghan and international forces were making every effort to prevent civilian casualties.

Regretting the civilian casualties, he argued there was no war in the world in which civilians were not being harmed.

ISAF spokesman, Arik Termily, who was also present at the press conference, expressed his grief over the civilian casualties and called it a tragedy.

"No doubt, the big challenge for international forces and Afghan government is civilian casualties."

The ISAF official said in addition to civilian casualties, Afghan National Army (ANA), National Police and international forces also suffered casualties during the operation.

Azeemi said the operation in Marjah district would be wrapped up in next few days.

So far three ANA soldiers had been killed and five others wounded during clashes with insurgents, he said and added about 100 Taliban were killed and another 50 arrested.

According Azeemi, normalcy has returned to Nad Ali district and parts of Marjah, where shops were reopened.

He said 3637 families who migrated to other parts of the province in the wake of the ongoing offensive, were provided necessary assistance. About 5,000 another families had been provided with basic facilities.

He linked slow progress in the operation to widespread plantation of mines by rebels.

Azeemi said the Afghan-led operation in Marja and Nad Ali was part of an 18 month-long plan that would be extended to other parts of the country as well.

The Helmand governor Gulab Mangal hoisted the national flag in Marja on Thursday. Mangal also introduced a new district chief for Marja which remained under Taliban control for the last two years.

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