7 rebels dead in fresh Jawzjan clash

SHIBERGHAN (PAN fighters, including a senior commander, were killed in a clash with a joint Afghan-international security force in northern Jawzjan province, officials said on Saturday.

The Taliban commander, Maulvi Lutfullah, was among the seven fighters killed late on Friday in Bibi Maryam village of Durzab district, deputy police chief, Col. Mohammad Ibrahim, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Since the launch of the counterinsurgency operation in Durzab and Qosh-i-Tapa districts three days ago, 26 Taliban militants have been killed and three policemen injured, according to Ibrahim. There were no reporters about civilian causalities, he added.

Both the districts were completely cleared of insurgents, with the rest of districts being searched for insurgents’ presence in cooperation with imams and tribal elders.

Ghulam Sakhi, a resident, said the forces fired rockets at a Taliban hideout, killing a number of militants.

However, a Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, denied any of their commanders was killed. He claimed Maulvi Lutfullah and Maulvi Nimatullah were alive.

On Friday, local officials said 18 Taliban, including Nimatullah, were killed during the ongoing operation.

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