Security men among 100 dead in Kunduz offensive

KUNDUZ CITY (Pajhwok): Fourteen security forces, three civilians and 100 insurgent have been killed in the clearing operation in northern Kunduz province, Governor Mohammad Umar Safi said on Thursday.

Addressing a press conference, Safi said 60 security officials and 160 rebels had been wounded in the offensive underway since three weeks.

The operation, he said was jointly launched by police, border police, Afghan Local Police (ALP) and intelligence officials. Several localities had been purged of rebels, he claimed.

Around 2,000 families had been displaced due to clashes between insurgents and security forces. The affected families sought shelter in districts and neighboring Takhar province where they were in dire need of assistance.   

Asmatullah, a displaced person with his seven members’ family took shelter at his relatives’ home in Kunduz City, the provincial capital. “We are facing several problems and want to return home as soon as possible.”

Elsewhere, two ALP officials, three Uzbeks and one Tajik rebels were killed on Wednesday during a showdown with security forces in Ymagan district of northeastern Badakhshan province, police chief Col. Abdul Zahir Mujadidi said.

Separately, Naveed Ahmad Farotan, the governor’s spokesman, said 12 members of family of foreign origin were held in a clearing operation in the Tagab district.

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