Afghans, NATO kill 20 Taliban in big operation
Thursday, 1 November 2007
KANDAHAR, Oct 31 (Reuters): Afghan and NATO-led troops killed some 20 Taliban fighters in an operation close to the main southern city of Kandahar after an insurgent move to capture the district, a police chief said Wednesday.
Taliban fighters have concentrated around the district of Arghandab, only some 12 km (8 miles) from Kandahar, after a pro- government tribal leader who held the area died of a heart attack two weeks ago leaving the northern approach to Kandahar exposed.
Afghan army and troops from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) launched a large operation around Arghandab this week to counter Taliban forces, local officials said.
At least 20 Taliban were killed in the fighting around Arghandab Monday and Tuesday and another 25 wounded, Kandahar police chief Sayed Agha Saqib told Reuters. There were no casualties among Afghan or foreign troops, he said.
The sound of explosions from the fighting could be heard in Kandahar overnight, residents said.
Taliban spokesman Qari Mohammad Yousuf said insurgents had captured seven checkpoints around Arghandab and inflicted large numbers of casualties on Afghan and foreign troops.
Taliban fighters have concentrated around the district of Arghandab, only some 12 km (8 miles) from Kandahar, after a pro- government tribal leader who held the area died of a heart attack two weeks ago leaving the northern approach to Kandahar exposed.
Afghan army and troops from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) launched a large operation around Arghandab this week to counter Taliban forces, local officials said.
At least 20 Taliban were killed in the fighting around Arghandab Monday and Tuesday and another 25 wounded, Kandahar police chief Sayed Agha Saqib told Reuters. There were no casualties among Afghan or foreign troops, he said.
The sound of explosions from the fighting could be heard in Kandahar overnight, residents said.
Taliban spokesman Qari Mohammad Yousuf said insurgents had captured seven checkpoints around Arghandab and inflicted large numbers of casualties on Afghan and foreign troops.