50 militants killed in Afghanistan

By Bimbo Ogunnaike with agency report

In an intensified crackdowns on the armed insurgents, Afghanistan security forces have killed more than 50 militants in the country over the past 24 hours.

The security forces in the latest operations on Tuesday struck a Taliban hideout in Aband district of the eastern Ghazni province early Tuesday killing three militants,.

Provincial Government Spokesman, Aref Nuri said, said four more insurgents were killed in the neighboring Deyak district on Monday.

Similarly, the government forces’ operations have killed 13 militants and wounded four others in Ghazni’s neighboring Zabul province over the past 24 hours, said a press release of national army released Tuesday.

At least 16 insurgents have been killed and two others injured as the security forces backed by fighting planes targeting Taliban hideouts in Kohna Shakh area of Khawja Bahaudin district in the northern Takhar province since Monday, an army statement said.

A District Official, Zalmay Khan,  also confirmed that government forces have also stormed Taliban hideout in Wardoj district of the northern Badakhshan district on Monday killing 15 militants and injuring five others.

However, some villagers on the condition of anonymity disputing the claim, insisting all the victims are civilians.

Backing Zalmay khan’s claim spokesman for Badakhshan provincial administration, Nik Mohammad Nazari asserted that 15 militants had been killed in security forces attack.

Nazari also claimed that mortars fire by Taliban fighters in Wardoj district on Monday claimed four lives of civilians and injured 11 others.

Both the Taliban and government forces have intensified activities over the past few months elsewhere in Afghanistan that have claimed countless lives including civilians, militants and security personnel.