65 militants killed in Afghanistan

 

Xinhua, April 21, 2011

Afghan army, backed by NATO-led forces, killed 65 militants during military operation in Baraki Barak district of Logar province, 60 km south of capital city Kabul, district chief said on Thursday.

"Army troops backed by international forces conducted an operation in Sajawand village of Baraki Barak district late Wednesday day night as a result 65 insurgents were killed," Baraki Barak district chief Mohammad Rahim Amin told Xinhua.

He said several groups of Taliban insurgents in fear of military operations come to Sajawand village but security forces acting upon intelligence report raided their hideouts killing 65 militants.

No casualties on joint forces and civilians have been reported so far, he further said.

On the other hand, Taliban purported spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in talks with media confirmed that the insurgents confronted security forces but only four fighters had been killed in fighting lasted for a while.

He also claimed the militants had killed several Afghan and foreign forces in the clash in Baraki Barak district last night.

Both security forces and Taliban fighters have intensified activities to consolidate positions since the beginning of spring, known as fighting season in the war-ravaged Afghanistan.

The NATO and Afghan forces have stepped up their cleanup and search operations over the past couples of months to clear the districts and towns of militants across the country.

Afghan and NATO-led troops in a joint forces operation had killed 17 insurgents in Dangam district in country's eastern Kunar province Tuesday night, according to officials.