Taliban’s governor held; 11 dead in clashes

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Two Afghan soldiers and nine militants were killed and a Taliban-designated governor for eastern Nangarhar province was captured during separate incidents, officials said on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the Taliban’s shadowy governor for Nangarhar was arrested last night by security forces in the Zurmat district of southeastern Paktia province.

His three companions were killed during the clash with security forces, the ministry said in a statement.

In eastern Laghman, half a dozen militants were killed during a cleanup operation in the Alingar district yesterday, the governor’s spokesman told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Two Afghan National Army troops were lost to the gun-battle that left another four insurgents injured, Sarhadi Zwak said. A third ANA service member sustained injuries in the incident, he added.

Meanwhile, the governor house in Nangarhar said four policemen and six insurgents were wounded during a firefight in the Momand Dara district the other day.

The clash erupted after a group of militants stormed a police post on the Torkham-Jalalabad highway, the statement said, adding security forces repulsed the attack, injuring six assailants.

The four policemen were injured when a rocket exploded near their post during the clash, it said. The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack in Momand Dara.

rm/ma

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