Hundreds of rebels killed or wounded: Azimi

KABUL): The Ministry of Defence on Wednesday claimed the second phase of the “Sword Operation” inflicted heavy casualties on rebels, including several Haqqani commanders.

The joint Afghan-ISAF border in eastern provinces of insurgents, a spokesman for the ministry told a news conference in Kabul.

Gen. Zahir Azimi said the operation, backed by the 201st Selab Military Corps, focused on Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Ghazni and Logar besides the eastern Kunar, Nuristan and Nangarhar provinces.

Azimi said hundreds of fighters either suffered casualties or were arrested as a result of the offensive. However, he did not give exact figures. “The operation delivered a major blow to militants, in particular the dreaded Haqqani network.”

Several key members of the group were killed, wounded and detained during the operation, he continued.

A week earlier, ISAF ended the 1st phase of Operations Sword and Knife Edge on the border with Pakistan. Around 200 fighters, including top Haqqani commanders, were killed or netted, the NATO-led force claimed.

Carsten Jacobson, the ISAF spokesman, said the operations, led by Afghan forces, concentrated on eastern regions so as to dismantle the rebels groups.

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