Four civilians, 11 armed opponents suffer casualties in Kunduz

Monitoring Desk

KABUL: Eleven armed opponents and four civilians suffered casualties during operation in Khanabad district in Kunduz province, officials said on Tuesday.

According to officials, the operation launched in Khanabad district of Kunduz two days ago was still in progress. However, local residents said civilians suffered casualties in the offensive.

The security forces had reached to remote areas of the district where Taliban bases existed, spokesman for Afghan National Army (ANA) 20th regiment in northeast Ghulam Hazrat Karimi told Afghan Islamic Press (AIP).

Six Taliban fighters were killed and five more injured in the offensive so far, he said, adding that Naik Pai and Khawaja Pista areas were purged of the armed opponents.

Meanwhile, a press release issued by Shaheen military corps in north stated that four Taliban fighters were killed during offensive against the armed opponents. It stated that Nasiryano, Charkh Aab, Shinwari, Nawabad and Shorabi Qashlaq areas were cleared of the armed opponents. The operation would continue till the district was purged of anti-government gunmen.

However, local residents of Khawaja Pista area told AIP that four civilians were critically injuring during the operation. One of them succumbed to the fatal injuries last night, a local resident told Afghan Islamic Press (AIP).

The remaining three injured persons including a child were under medical treatment at the hospital, he added. These children belonged to two families.

The officials of 20th regiment neither confirmed nor rejected reports about civilian casualties. They, however, added that the operation was in progress carefully. They said the civilians would have possibly suffered casualties during firing by Taliban.

On the other side, Taliban claimed that the security forces suffered casualties during clashes in Khanabad district. They, however, did not say anything about casualties to Taliban gunmen in the operation. (AIP)