23 rebels killed, police officer wounded

KABUL (Pajhwok): At least 23 insurgent have been killed and a district police chief wounded during clashes and a bombing in different parts of the country, officials said on Thursday.

Eight militants were killed and five wounded during an overnight gunbattle in the Andar district of southern Ghazni province, the governor’s spokesman said.

Shafiq Nang told Pajhwok Afghan News the district police chief, Lutfullah Kamran, was going to meet security forces in the area when his motorcycle hit a roadside bomb.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack, saying several security forces had been killed and wounded in the subsequent clash.

Elsewhere, 12 Taliban were killed during a clearing operation in the Shahr-i-Safa district of southern Zabul province, police chief Brig. Gen. Ghulam Sakhi Rogh Lewanai said.

He added Taliban notorious commander Mullah Salim was also present in the area but managed to flee. Police seized heavy and light weapons during the operation.

Separately, three people including an illegal armed commander were killed during a clash with police in the Farkhar district of northern Takhar province, the district police chief said. 

Ali added Painda Mohammad, the illegal commander, mounted an attack on a police check-post in the area. Three of the attackers were killed in retaliatory fire from police.

nh/mud

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