Security men among 40 dead in new violence

KABUL (Pajhwok):  At least 34 militants and six Afghan security personnel have been killed and score wounded on both sides in direct clashes and blasts in different parts of the country, officials said on Wednesday.

Col. Nauman Hatif, spokesman for the 201^st Selab Corps of the Afghan National Army (ANA), told Pajhwok Afghan News special security forces’ operations had been underway in the Haska Mena district of Nangarhar for the last three days.

During the offensive, Shpoli, Kakhel, Dawlatkhel, Kotwal and Sharmakhel areas of the district had been purged of militants, he claimed. At least 12 rebels were killed and the corpses were still lying at the scene.

Saleh Mohammad, a resident of the district, said the offensive was ongoing in the area against anti-state elements. Haska Mena is among Nangarhar’s insecure districts, where local and foreign insurgents are active.

In another showdown in central Maidan Wardak province, nine rebels, including two Waziristanis, were killed and wounded. Attaullah Khogyani, the governor’s spokesman, said the clashes took place in Sayedabad, Nirkh and Jalrez districts.

Six militants, including Taliban’s shadow intelligence chief for the area, Syed Hassan, and dreaded commander Wahid — alias Jalali — were among the dead. Four more rebels were wounded.

An ANA soldier and Afghan Local Police (ALP) official also died in the clash, the gubernatorial spokesman added.

In southern Ghazni province, masked men gunned down a local official of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) and another agent suffered injuries early Wednesday morning.

Shafiq Nang, the governor’s spokesman, said the attack on NDS officials occurred in front of the Red Crescent office.

In central Logar, officials said US jets conducted airstrikes in Pul-i-Alam, the provincial capital, Daudkhel and Niazi areas, killing 12 insurgents, including a notorious commander.

Brig. Gen. Abdul Hakim Ishaqzai, provincial police chief, confirmed US jets carried out airstrikes in parts of the province. Mullah Abdullah was among the slain militants, he added.

Shakoorullah, a local, said that unmanned aircraft targeted a Corolla car at around 10: 00pm on Tuesday night, leaving four militants dead.

In eastern Laghman, heavy clashes took place between insurgents and police in Badpakh district, said Sarhadi Zwak, the governor’s spokesman. Two policemen died and another injured in the clash. Several militants were killed and wounded.

Police were evacuating the dead and injured to hospital when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb, leaving three more local police officials dead.

Security officials in southeastern Paktia province said three policemen died and two others were wounded in roadside blast in Khushamand district.

Taliban claimed responsibility for the Paktia attack. However, the group rejected the claim regarding casualties inflicted on militants in clashes.

rm/mud

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