13 dead in new violence

KABUL insurgents and four border policemen were killed during separate incidents in Uruzgan and Nangarhar provinces, officials said on Sunday.

Police killed the nine militants during an operation in the Khas Uruzgan district, police spokesman Farid Aail told Pajhwok Afghan News. Two policemen were also injured in the clash that took place in the Kata Sang area, he said.

However, Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi claimed the fighters had killed eight policemen after they attacked their checkpoint in the Shah Wali Kot district that borders Kandahar.

In eastern Nangarhar, four border policemen were killed on Sunday when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb in the Khawri area of Momandara district, according to police spokesman Maj. Hazrat Hussain Mashriqiwal.

A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, claimed responsibility for the roadside bombing, saying four policemen were killed.

In southeastern Khost province, traders said National Directorate of Security (NDS) agents had detained their two colleagues for importing acid.

Traders union head, Kiramat Khan Khpalwak, told Pajhwok Afghan News the spy officials arrested the pair 10 days ago, claiming the acid was used in making explosives. However, he said they used acid in vehicle batteries.

An NDS attorney, Gulam Rassoul Khpalwak, said the detainees would be bailed out, but their case would remain under investigation at the prosecution office.

An acid dealer in Khost City, Rahimullah Gurbaz, said he sold sulfuric acid (H2SO4) which could not be used in explosives.

myn/ma

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