SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association)
Clashes between militants and Afghan security forces in the northern Saripul province with Saripul city as its capital, 350 km north of Kabul, have left 45 people including 22 security personnel and 23 militants dead, provincial governor Abdul Jabbar Taqwa said Monday.
“In the clash which erupted Sunday night in Darai Alafsafid area, a suburban of Saripul city, so far 45 people including 22 security personnel from army and police and 23 Taliban rebels including their commander Mullah Nadir have been killed,” Taqwa told reporters at a press conference Monday afternoon.
He also admitted that eight more security personnel had been injured during the clash which is still continuing.
Taliban militants fighting the government to regain power have stepped up activities over the past couple of months as the NATO- led forces preparation to complete withdrawal process from Afghanistan by the end of year is going on.
Meantime, Taliban militants confirmed the clash in Saripul province.
In an online statement, the armed outfit said Monday that the clash that flared up Sunday at around noon time and ended Monday morning had left 40 security personnel dead.
The Taliban in the statement insisted that only one insurgent was killed in the bloody fighting which lasted for around 20 hours.
However, Saripul provincial governor Taqwa rebuffed Taliban claim as propaganda, insisting 23 militants including their commander Mullah Nadir had been killed in the bloody clash which is still going on.
He also asserted that the military operations are going on in the area to subdue the militants and establish government control there.
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