GARDEZ (SW): Two days after the Taliban took control of the main road connecting southeastern Paktia’s six districts with the provincial capital Gardez, the government forces have managed to repulse the rebels and restore the connectivity.
The Taliban took control of the road in the Patan district on Monday leaving thousands of residents stranded on the either side of it. Hundreds of goods and passenger carrying vehicles were also stranded.
After the clean-up operation, the road link was restored on Wednesday morning.
Naqeeb Ahmad Attal, spokesman for the provincial governor, told journalists on the spot that as many as nine militants have been killed in the ground and air offensives here. “The Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) are busy in operation in the Ahmadkhail and Mirzaki districts, reconstruction of the damaged bridges is also underway”, he said.
Mohammad Ayub, head of security at the provincial police headquarters, said on the occasion that the ANSF are carefully conducting operation in nearby five districts to make sure no civilian casualties occur.
ENDS
