KABUL: Authorities in Afghanistan said Friday that troops had killed 53 militants in an upsurge of violence across the war-torn country that also left 11 Afghan soldiers and civilians dead.The heaviest battle was early Thursday when Afghan and US-led troops came under heavy fire from militants while on patrol in southern Zabul province, the US military said."The combined forces returned fire and requested air support, killing 35 and wounding 13," it said in a statement. The remaining militants fled, and the wounded were treated and taken into Afghan army custody, it said. The military did not say whether the militants were suspected Taliban but fighters from that group operate in Zabul and other southern provinces. It was impossible to independently confirm details of the clash in Zabul's Daychopan district, which borders Pakistan's Baluchistan, where extremist militants have bases.Afghanistan is gripped by an insurgency led by the Taliban, who were in government between 1996 and 2001. Thousands of mostly US troops are based here to help the authorities fight the extremists who have stepped up their attacks in recent weeks.On Friday there was another fierce, nearly two-hour battle at the opposite end of the country, in the northwestern province of Badghis which borders Turkmenistan, the provincial governor said. Afghan troops were ambushed as they entered a village to which they had been invited by elders for a meeting, governor Delbar Jan Arman told media. Six of the soldiers died and five were wounded, he said. Eighteen Taliban were killed and as many hurt, the official said. There was no way to independently confirm these casualty tolls. Authorities also reported several new attacks linked to the insurgent campaign.
KABUL: Authorities in Afghanistan said Friday that troops had killed 53 militants in an upsurge of violence across the war-torn country that also left 11 Afghan soldiers and civilians dead.The heaviest battle was early Thursday when Afghan and US-led troops came under heavy fire from militants while on patrol in southern Zabul province, the US military said."The combined forces returned fire and requested air support, killing 35 and wounding 13," it said in a statement. The remaining militants fled, and the wounded were treated and taken into Afghan army custody, it said. The military did not say whether the militants were suspected Taliban but fighters from that group operate in Zabul and other southern provinces. It was impossible to independently confirm details of the clash in Zabul's Daychopan district, which borders Pakistan's Baluchistan, where extremist militants have bases.Afghanistan is gripped by an insurgency led by the Taliban, who were in government between 1996 and 2001. Thousands of mostly US troops are based here to help the authorities fight the extremists who have stepped up their attacks in recent weeks.On Friday there was another fierce, nearly two-hour battle at the opposite end of the country, in the northwestern province of Badghis which borders Turkmenistan, the provincial governor said. Afghan troops were ambushed as they entered a village to which they had been invited by elders for a meeting, governor Delbar Jan Arman told media. Six of the soldiers died and five were wounded, he said. Eighteen Taliban were killed and as many hurt, the official said. There was no way to independently confirm these casualty tolls. Authorities also reported several new attacks linked to the insurgent campaign.
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