PUL-E-KHOMRI (SW): The Dand-e-Ghori area in northern Baghlan province fell back to the government on Thursday after Taliban’s dominance here for some 8 months.
Abdul Satar Barez, the Governor of Baghlan, has said that the Taliban fighters have been expelled from Dand-e-Ghori and the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) have launched house to house hunt for the remaining militants.
He said that the “Khurshid-20 Operation” by the ANSF has inflicted heavy casualties upon the militants by killing more than 150 Taliban fighters including top 5 commanders.
He added that such operations are also underway in other areas in the province that will continue to fully clear the area of the militants.
During a month of fighting between the militants and the ANSF in Dand-e-Ghori, hundreds of families have been displaced. The displaced families have now expressed satisfaction as the area has been pronounced clear.
The locals have urged upon the government to do its best to ensure sustainable security in the area and help them with reconstruction of their houses.
Din Mohammad, Haji Sayed Mehran and Rahmatullah are among those who have been displaced. “We have been caught in the cross-fire for too long, we are desperate for help”, they said talking to Salam Watandar,
The “Khurshid 20 Operation” started a month earlier with the help of airstrikes, which have been dubbed successful in eliminating a number of top militants.
ENDS
