By Zabihullah Tamanna
KABUL
Fresh clashes in Afghanistan between Afghan forces and Taliban militants leaves 69 dead and dozens wounded, Afghan officials said.
According to a statement released by the ministry of interior affairs on Monday, at least 47 Taliban militants were killed and 26 others were wounded during an offensive carried out by Afghan forces in seven provinces in Afghanistan in the past 24 hours.
“The bodies of prominent commanders have been identified and four terrorists have been arrested,” it added.
In a separate incident, at least 15 Taliban militants were killed by Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers on Monday and several others were injured.
“We also have lost six national army soldiers following roadside bombs on Monday,” Ministry of Defense spokesman, Zahir Azimi said, but did not disclose the location.
He also said soldiers have discovered 48 rounds of improvised explosive devices (IED) along with a huge cache of ammunition and they have seized numerous weapons. Azimi further added that the army soldiers in collaboration with police and intelligence service forces have launched 19 military operations in eleven provinces in Afghanistan.
In the meantime, Afghan forces have arrested the Taliban shadow district governor and three of his companions following a fight which resulted in the death of one person.
“Mawlawi Mamor, the shadow district governor of Taliban for the Doshi district of northeastern Baghlan province has been arrested along with three of his soldiers and one other was killed following a clash during the operation to hunt down militants on Monday night,” deputy Provincial Police Abdul Rashid Basheer told the Anadolu Agency.
Baghlan province is a junction between the north, south and east of Afghanistan which attracts Taliban militants. It is an important corridor for thousands of trucks and fuel tankers who travel from central Asian countries to Pakistan and to the Indian sea.
“Mawlawi Mamor had been involved in planting roadside bombs and torching fuel tankers in the past years. Police have seized large sums of money and weapons during the operation,” Basheer added.
Taliban militants, who have been engaged in fighting since 2001, have yet to comment.
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