JALALABAD/ KABUL (PAN): Seventeen insurgents were killed during a joint clearing operation by Afghan and foreign forces in the Hesarak district of eastern Nangarhar province on Wednesday, an official said.
The operation is still in progress in Daud Kala, Rashid Kala and Jabarkhel areas, provincial police spokesman Maj. Hazrat Hussain Mashriqiwal told Pajhwok Afghan News. He hinted the offensive would continue for some days.
But the Taliban and Hezb-i-Islami Afghanistan (HIA), meanwhile, claimed they had killed and wounded many Afghan and foreign forces.
A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said 10 foreign soldiers and six Taliban security personnel were killed. Mohammad Zubair Siddiqui, speaking on behalf of HIA, said 15 international soldiers were killed in Hesarak.
According to another report, four Taliban were killed in clashes in central Wardak province. Governor’s spokesman Attaullah Khogiani said one militant was killed and another wounded in Maidan Shahar -- the provincial capital of.
A Taliban group leader and an HIA member were wounded in a separate incident in the Charka area, he said, adding two sons of the group leader were arrested with explosives, a walkie-talkie, a pistol and a Kalashnikov in Syedabad district.
Also on Thursday, the US military said 24 insurgents were killed by Afghan and coalition forces in different parts of the country over the past 24 hours.
Seven fighters were killed in the Deh Yak district of Ghazni province, 13 in the Hesarak district of Nangarhar and four in the Barmal district of Paktia.