Masood Ahmed Masood, Deputy Head of Dostum’s Islamic Movement Party of Afghanistan (IMPA), who is with the VP, told Salam watandar, that militants have been killed in the province’s Pashtunkot district. He noted that among those killed included Mawlawi Kandahari, Mawlawi Haqyar, Mawlawi Ghani and Mawlawi Ezatullah that are believed to be important Taliban commanders. He added that Mullah Zarif, the Taliban’s shadow governor has been wounded in the fighting.
Masood added that the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) led by the VP have pushed the Taliban away from the provincial capital Maimana City. Heavy fighting is said to be still underway.
The Afghan VP has arrived in Faryab after clearing the Qush Tapa district of neighboring Jawzjan province. He is now heading the ANSF’s "Sword 25" offensives in Faryab. The IMPA’s Deputy further said that six men from the Afghan National Army (ANA) sustained injuries and a policeman died in the fighting.
Mohammad Reza Rezai, Spokesman for the ANA’s 209th Shaheen Corps, told Salam Watandar that the Khowaja Musa area of the Pashtunkot would soon be completely cleared.Rezai said the ANSF would establish checkpoints there to ensure security.
Meanwhile, the Taliban have rejected all these claims. In a message, the Taliban have asserted that none of their commanders have been killed and instead they have seized three police stations in Pashtonkot.
ENDS
