Kabul - Three soldiers of the international forces and seven
policemen were reported killed in separate attacks by Taliban
militants on Saturday.
Local officials in the south-eastern Paktika province said two US
soldiers were killed as Taliban rebels attacked a US military base in
Zhirok district in the morning, detonating a fuel tanker filled with
explosives.
Provincial governor's spokesman Hamidullah Zhwak told the German
Press Agency dpa that the heavy explosion was followed by fighting
that began at 6:30 am and lasted four hours.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said eight tons of explosives
were used in the attack. He said 20 Taliban militants took part in
the operation, and that seven were killed.
The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)
confirmed in a statement that two of its soldiers were killed in the
east, but it said the cause was a roadside bomb blast. Earlier, an
ISAF spokesperson said four soldiers were also wounded.
Another statement issued separately by the ISAF and the US
military said that an outpost came under the Taliban attack, in which
10 militants were killed and one was detained.
'At least 10 militants were killed and one detained as Afghan
National Army (ANA) soldiers and International Security Assistance
Forces (ISAF) service members responded to an attack on a combat
outpost in Paktika province this morning,' said the statements.
Insurgents attacked with indirect fire, including multiple rockets
and mortars, at least one of which contained white phosphorous,
small-arms fire and a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, the
statements read. They did not mention any casualties to international
forces.
In another statement earlier Saturday, ISAF troops also said one
soldier was killed by roadside bomb in eastern Afghanistan, making
announcement of the third international soldier's death on a single
day. It did not disclose nationality of the victim or the location.
In southern Kandahar province, seven police were killed as their
jeep stepped on a roadside bomb Saturday morning.
The interior ministry in Kabul said in a statement a civilian also
died and two other police were killed in the blast that targeted a
police patrol around 6:30 in Rigistan district.
Kandahar is a Taliban stronghold and birthplace of the militant
movement in 1990s.
In neighboring Helmand province, where US forces are leading a
massive operation against the Taliban, local officials said one
district partially governed by the Taliban was cleared out of the
militants during the sweep.
Helmand provincial chief Asadullah Shirzad told dpa that Nawa
district was retaken from the Taliban and all areas were cleared from
the militants during the operation Khanjar (curved dagger).
On Friday, he said Khanashin district - which had been ruled by
the Taliban completely - was retaken.
He said international and Afghan forces were now moving into
Grishk, Nahr Saraj and Garmsir districts, of which the countryside is
run by the Taliban, but district centers remain with the government.
Three districts of Helmand - Dishu, Baghran and Washer - are still
run by the Taliban completely. The Taliban made no immediate comment
on the reported fall of Khanashin and Nawa districts.
Reports of these having been retaken were announced only by local
officials in Helmand. The defence ministry in Kabul in a statement on
Saturday limited itself to saying operation Khanjar was going well,
and that it was aimed at bringing security to the area before the
presidential election set for August 20.
The massive military offensive was launched by US Marines on
Thursday to tackle the Taliban's comeback in its strongest
stronghold.
Up to 4,000 Marines, backed by NATO aircraft and a 650-man Afghan
force, have been moving into towns across the province.
The Taliban vowed that thousands of its fighters would fight back,
but a military spokesman said that there had only been limited
resistance so far.
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