MAZAR-I-SHARIF (SW): Chimtal and Chahar Bolak districts of Balkh province were cleared of the Taliban. Local authorities in Balkh province said the clean-up operations in Chimtal and Chahar Bolak districts of the province ended on Sunday.
Sayed Abdullah Masroor, the deputy for the provincial council, told Salam Watandar that 30 Taliban were killed, 40 were injured and 10 other Taliban were detained by security forces during the operations. He did not say anything about the casualties of the security forces.
The clean-up operations in Chimtal and Chahar Bolak districts were launched on Saturday afternoon, under the leadership of Atta Mohammad Noor, the governor of Balkh, accompanied by a number of military commanders, representatives of Balkh at the National Assembly and members of the Provincial Council to suppress the Taliban in the districts.
On the other hand, during more than 10 days of clashes between security forces and the Taliban in Chamtal and Chahar Bolak districts, dozens of families have been displaced to Mazar-i-Sharif and Dehdadi district of the province.
Abdul Saboor Qaderi, the provincial director of refugees and repatriates, told Salam Watandar that so far more than 150 displaced families have been identified from the Chimtal district and the Directorate has distributed food aid to displaced families. According to him, the process of surveying and identifying internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Chimtal and Chahar Bolak, is still under way.
A number of IDPs who have taken refuge in the village of Naw Abad in Dehdadi district complained of harsh life and urged help. The IDPs said that due to war, they have abandoned some of their family members and belongings to take refuge in safe areas.
Mohammad Omar, an elder in the village of Naw Abad of Dehdadi district, said that more than 100 displaced families, most of whom are women and children, have come from Chumtal and Chahar Bolak to the district. He added that he is collecting food and cash from the residents of Dehdadi to help the displaced families.
The clashes between the security forces and the Taliban began in Chamtal and Chahar Bolak districts of Balkh Province almost two weeks ago.
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