KABUL, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Heavy clashes between Afghan troops backed by
NATO and Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar and western Farah
provinces have killed more than 40 insurgents, officials said Tuesday.
"Afghan forces with the support of NATO launched an operation against
insurgents in Arghandab district of Kandahar province Monday night and so far 20
rebels have been killed and 25 others sustained injuries," police chief of
Kandahar province Syed Aqa Saqib told Xinhua.
There were no casualties on Afghan and NATO troops, Saqib said, adding that
the operation is still continuing.
On the other hand, Taliban purported spokesman Qari Yusuf Ahmadi Tuesday
claimed that the militants besides inflicting huge casualties on the government
troops have captured seven check points.
A similar conflict in Afghanistan's western Farah province has left more
than 20 Taliban fighters dead.
"Some 400 militants attacked Gilistan district in Farah province Monday
night and government forces encountered and so far more than 28 persons
including 20 enemies, seven civilians and one police have been killed,"
provincial police chief Abdul Rahman Sarjang told Xinhua.
He added that more troops would be sent to the area to clean the insurgents
there.
Taliban have yet to make comment.
This year Afghanistan witnessed the deadliest period since 2001as
militancy-related violence and conflicts have claimed the lives of over 5,300
people since January 2007.
The Taliban, after being toppled by the U.S. invasion in late 2001
following the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, has waged a years-long
insurgency against the Afghan administration and international troops.
