Daily Security Brief: July 29, 2011

JAWZJAN: Seven militants were killed in an eight-hour clash with police in the Ashur Qul area of Darzab district. A Taliban commander, Qari Roohullah Zarqawi, surrendered to the authorities along with four associates after the engagement, district chief Mohammad Rahimi said.

As a result of the clash that erupted at 6pm and ended on 2am, the insurgents also turned in four AK-47 rifles and a heavy machine gun to the security personnel. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Zarqawi surrendered to police after shooting dead his associates -- Damullah and Abdul Haq.

-- Mohammad Jan Tamkin

NIMROZ: One policeman was killed and another wounded in a Taliban assault on a police checkpoint on the Zaranj-Dilaram highway late on Thursday night, police chief Brig. Gen. Abdul Jabbar Purdali said. Six Taliban, including a suicide bomber, stormed the check-post.

The suicide attacker, a Pakistani citizen who was backed by Afghan fighters, struck policemen after entering the checkpoint. The injured policeman, who was transferred to a health facility in the area, was in stable condition, said the district chief, Eng. Khuda-i-Dad.

-- Ahmad Shah Sabir