Taliban’s bid to overrun Afghan district foiled

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) - Afghan troops on Friday claimed to have thwarted the Taliban's bid to overrun southeastern Andar district after three days of deadly clashes that began with a suicide car bombing, an official said.

Mohammad Arif, spokesman for the Ghazni governor, told Anadolu Agency that as many as 69 militants have been killed by the Afghan Special Forces, which came for the rescue of local security forces that came under attack.

“A number of militant commanders, including many Pakistanis, have been killed in counter-offensives and the Andar district center has been secured”, Arif said.

On Wednesday, the Taliban stormed Andar district with a suicide car bombing and subsequent armed assault that killed up to 30 people, most of them were policemen.

Zabihullah Mujahed, the Taliban spokesman, had claimed 44 policemen were killed and large cache of arms and ammunition confiscated.

Since Wednesday, over 100 security personnel have been killed in three coordinated suicide car bombings and armed assaults in Paktia, Ghazni and Kandahar provinces, according to the Interior Ministry.

In counter-offensives, the Defense Ministry said 72 suspected militants have been killed in air and ground raids on different fronts.

Amid escalating violence in Afghanistan, the Nato-led Resolute Support Mission (RSM) Commander General John Nicholson reiterated his support for the Afghan forces.

"The United States and the NATO-led Resolute Support are firm in our resolve to create a secure, stable and peaceful Afghanistan. All too often it is clear that the enemies of Afghanistan offer nothing for the future of this beautiful country and its people. Our mission is to stand with the Afghan security forces and Afghan people, and to support them in the fight against terrorism, our common enemy”, he said in a statement.