Afghan, NATO forces kill 11 militants in N Afghanistan

Afghan forces backed by NATO-led troops during overnight operation in Afghanistan's northern Baghlan province eliminated 11 Taliban militants including their commander, deputy to provincial police chief Sayed Jamaludin said Saturday. "Afghan troops backed by Special Forces with NATO-led troops raided last night a compound in Baba Saqa area after intelligence information indicated insurgent activity there killing 11 enemies including their commander Mullah Jabbar Gujar," Jamaludin told Xinhua.

He said that the combined forces called on militants to surrender but the individuals refused to lay down their arms and engaged the security forces.

No civilians were harmed in the operation, he said.

Taliban militants fighting Afghan government and NATO-led troops have yet to make comments.

The hardliner militia was removed from power in a U.S.-led international military campaign in late 2001 after controlling majority of the country.

Moreover, the outfit regrouped and made a bloody comeback four years ago in their traditional hotbed southern Afghanistan has influenced the relatively peaceful northern provinces.

Militancy and conflicts have been on rise since the spring onset in the war-battered Afghanistan. Taliban fighters in the latest wave of attacks against government interests overran the mountainous Barg-e-Matal district in the eastern Nuristan province Saturday morning. However, local authorities say that police force have vacated the district in order to avoid civilian casualties.

Presently there are over 125,000-strong NATO-led troops with majority of whom Americans stationed in post-Taliban Afghanistan to ensure peace in the war-battered country.


Source: Xinhua