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Afghan troops liberate district from militants

In this photograph taken on May 3, 2015, Afghan National Army soldiers prepare to fire during a battle with Taliban militants in northern Kunduz Province. (© AFP)

 

Afghan security forces have managed to liberate a remote district from the grip of Taliban militants as Kabul struggles to counter the surge in the militancy plaguing the country.

In a major military offensive launched on Tuesday, Afghan troops recaptured the Jawand district in the western province of Badghis two days after Taliban militants seized control of the area.

“Afghan security forces launched an operation on Tuesday morning and cleared the Jawand district of western Badghis Province from enemies of peace and stability of Afghanistan,” Xinhua news agency quoted a statement from Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry as saying in reference to the Taliban militants.

The statement said that a mop-up operation has been launched to clear the surrounding areas, without giving any details on the potential casualties of the offensive.

Local officials had escaped to the nearby villages during the Sunday offensive by Taliban, calling on the central government in Kabul to immediately send reinforcements.

The capture of the area was part of the so-called spring offensive by Taliban. Hundreds of people, including militants, civilians and security personnel, have been killed in the attacks which began in April 24.

Afghanistan faces a security challenge years after the United States and its allies invaded the country in 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed Taliban from power, but many areas in the country are still witnessing violence, which threatens stability.

At least 13,500 foreign forces remain in Afghanistan despite the end of the US-led combat mission, which came on December 31, 2014. The forces, mainly from the US, are there for what Washington calls a support mission.

MS/MKA/HJL

 


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