PUL-I-ALAM (PAN): Security officials on Saturday secured and reopened roads which had been closed by Taliban insurgents over the past five months in the Azra district of central Logar province.
Governor Arsala Jamal, who visited Mohammad Agha district, told reporters the security forces had achieved their target in Azra, where a major security operation is still underway.
The road closures led to the death of seven people, including five children, as a result of severe food shortages, officials previously said.
Jamal said Afghan forces had advanced into Azra district from three directions. They entered the town from Logar, Zazai Ayub in southeastern Paktia and Hesarak in eastern Nangarhar province, the governor said.
All roads leading to the district had been cleared of insurgents and reopened, he said, adding the ongoing operation had so far resulted in the killing of more than 100 insurgents, including foreigners.
He said Afghan forces had also suffered casualties as a result of roadside bomb attacks, but he did not reveal any figures. The Taliban wanted to strengthen their position in Logar and thus threaten the security situation in Kabul.
Azra district, which borders Paktia and Nangarhar provinces, is located 100 kilometres east of Pul-i-Alam, the capital of Logar. The governor said the Taliban had fired three rockets into Mohammad Agha district.
District police chief, Col. Abdul Wakeel, told Pajhwok Afghan News the rocket attack caused no casualties, but damaged a security balloon over a US military camp.
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