Afghan army claims 50 Taliban dead after gunfight

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) - Thwarting a major Taliban onslaught, Afghan forces claimed on Tuesday to have killed at least 50 insurgents in the country's north.

Spokesman Abbas Tawakali told Anadolu Agency that the insurgents intended to overrun strategic areas in the Baghlan province, adding that the army killed 50 Taliban members and injuring 30 others in a response from the air and ground.

According to Tawakali, among those killed were a number of senior figures from the Taliban’s so-called "red unit".

The Afghan army shared images of the dead militants and a large cache of arms and ammunition.

The local Salam Afghanistan radio station reported that at least three soldiers were killed and five others wounded in a gunfight with the insurgents.

For the Taliban's part, spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed denied that the group suffered heavy casualties, asserting that only 13 insurgents were killed.