Militant leaders among18 killed in Jawzjan

SHIBERGHAN (PAN forces’ operation in northwestern Jawzjan province, an official said on Sunday.

Another nearly a dozen rebels were captured alive during the offensive in the Kokuldash village of Faizabad district on Saturday afternoon, Deputy Governor Abdul Rahman told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Taliban’s shadow governors for Jawzjan and Balkh provinces — Maulvi Ahmad Shah and Maulvi Ismail — were among the dead, he said.

An Afghan National Army (ANA) commander Maj. Mirza Murad said the joint forces had air support during the operation which also resulted in the killing of Mullah Faizullah, a Taliban-designated governor for Badakhshan and Mullah Sadruddin, a notorious Taliban group leader.

Seven more insurgents were wounded and weapons, including seven rockets launchers and two motorcycles were seized, he said.

Abdul Jalil, a resident of the area, said the operation involved five helicopters and two jets. He said the Taliban suffered huge casualties in the operation and some bodies were seen under destroyed walls of their compounds.

Jalil said the Taliban hideout which they used for planning their activities was completely destroyed in the attack.

But a Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed 16 foreign soldiers were killed during clashes with fighters. He confirmed the death of eight ordinary Taliban in the operation, denying any senior figure had been killed.

He claimed those arrested by foreign forces during the operation were civilians who had no connection with the movement.

mds/ma

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