22 Taliban killed as 17 Zabul villages cleared

QALAT (Pajhwok): Security forces, claiming to have inflicted heavy casualties on Taliban militants, on Thursday announced clearing 17 villages of the Shah Joy district of southern Zabul province of the rebels.

The villages were cleared in the district during a clearing operation codenamed “Khalid” wrapped up late on Wednesday, said Gul Islam Seyal, the governor’s spokesman.

He told Pajhwok Afghan News 22 militants were killed and 17 others wounded and a machine gun belonging to Taliban was destroyed during the operation.

The offensive resulted in clearing 17 big and small villages of militants’ presence and currently the areas were under security forces’ control.

Seyal added one policeman was killed and one ANA soldier and two civilians were wounded during the offensive. Militants have said nothing about the operation so far.

sa/ma