KABUL, May 31 (NNN-XINHUA) – At least 16 Taliban militants were killed and eight others arrested, in two Afghan provinces, the country’s Ministry of Defence confirmed today.
In the northern Kunduz province, five people were freed from Taliban’s clutch, after Afghan National Army commandos raided a Taliban hideout in Qosh Tapa village, on the outskirts of provincial capital Kunduz city, last night, the ministry said in a statement.
“The army commandos raided a Taliban hideout at midnight. During the operation, the security forces received hostile fire. They returned fire in self-defence. In ensuing gunfight, 12 enemy combatants were killed and eight others were arrested,” the statement said.
The freed people and the arrested militants were shifted to an army camp. The Taliban hideout was destroyed and weapons and ammunition were seized during the raid, the statement added.
In southern Helmand province, four militants were killed and two wounded, after Afghan Air Force bombed a Taliban position in Chah-e-Angir, an area in restive Nad Ali district, yesterday, the army’s 215th Maiwand Corps said in a statement.
The Taliban militants have not commented on the operations so far.
Violence in Afghanistan is on the rise, as the U.S. and NATO troops have been pulling out from the country.
