2 civilians among 9 dead in Faryab, Jawzjan

MAIMANA/SHIBERGHAN (Pajhwok): Five militants and two policemen have been killed and seven others wounded in the Qaisar district of northwestern Faryab province while two civilians were killed in Jawzjan province, officials said on Thursday.

Abdul Jamil Saddiqi, Qaisar district chief, told Pajhwok Afghan News the militants were killed during clashes in Chichakhto area during the past 24 hours. Two Afghan Local Police (ALP) members, he said were also died in the firefight.

But Zar Alam, an ALP commander, said four of his men and seven civilians including a woman were wounded in the offensive. He said the civilians suffered injuries as result of rocket shelling by militants which landed in a residential area.

However, a Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi claimed killing four police officers including two commanders and wounding seven others in the clashes. Two armored tanks also destroyed, he said. Ahmadi confirmed the death of a militant and wound of two others.

Wishing to go unnamed, a dweller of Chichakto area of Qaisar said: “We are tired of fighting and even of our lives because we have not gone outside of our home since last three days.”

He said civilians also suffered casualties in the violence, asking the government not to target innocent people.

Elsewhere, two upraising members were killed in a roadside bombing in Faizabad district of Jawzjan province. Police commander Abdul Manan Raufi said two upraising members were killed when their motorbike hit a roadside bomb in Gerjak village of the district on Thursday.

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