KABUL (SW) – Since the start of intra-Afghan talks, fighting has flared-up between the Taliban fighters and Afghan security forces in 12 provinces across the country.
Estimates by local officials suggest 216 Taliban militants got killed and 83 others wounded while 58 security personnel were killed and 75 others were injured in these clashes. In this one week, at least 47 Taliban fighters have been killed and 41 others wounded in three provinces alone namely Nangarhar, Kunar and Laghman.
Ataullah Khogyani, spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar, told Salam Watandar that a number of insurgent forces had been killed in Taliban attacks in Shirzad, Hesarak and Khogyani districts of the province.
Kandahar police spokesman Jamal Nasser Barakzai said the Taliban suffered heavy casualties in Shah Walikot and Maiwand districts of the province. Clashes between the Taliban and security forces in Kandahar have killed 75 Taliban and wounded 11 others.
Security officials in Paktika said seven Taliban insurgents have been killed and 19 others wounded in 17 Taliban attacks here in past one week.
In neighboring Paktia province, police chief Sultan Daud Sultan said Taliban killed three security personnel and wounded 11 others in three separate attacks. According to him, 20 Taliban were killed and 10 others were wounded in the exchange of fire between the two groups.
Clashes between the Taliban and security forces in the western parts of the country left 22 security forces, 34 armed Taliban and 11 civilians killed, officials said.
According to the local officials in the western zone, 17 security forces, 13 Taliban and 11 other civilians were wounded in various incidents in this period.
In Logar province, 25 Taliban, 23 insurgents and two civilians were killed in attacks staged by the Taliban.
Fighting also continued in Maidan Wardak province where 15 Taliban got killed and eight others wounded in clashes with security and defense forces. According to provincial security officials, two security forces were also killed in the Taliban attacks here.
Acting Defense Minister Asadullah Khalid told a meeting on Thursday that Taliban attacks had increased with the start of inter-Afghan talks. The acting defense minister added that the Taliban had stepped up their attacks to gain points at the negotiating table.
ENDS
