Tajikistani fighter among 9 dead, hurt

Monitoring Desk

KUNDUZ: A Tajikistani national among three Taliban fighters were killed and six others wounded during clashes in the Juram district of northeastern Badakhshan province, Afghan army said Tuesday.

Maj. Ghulam Hazrat Karimi, press officer of Afghan National Army (ANA) 20th Division in northeastern Afghanistan, told Afghan media outlet that clashes took place between security forces and Taliban in different areas of Juram district.

During the clashes, he said, three Taliban including a Tajikistani fighter were killed and six others wounded.

Residents of the district said the clash occurred in the Pul-e-Ali Mughal and Sheikh Wali areas after Taliban conducted attacks on security forces.

They said the fighting lasted till Tuesday’s morning but they had no information about casualties.

A press release issued by ANA’s 209th Shaheen Corps said aerial bombing and artillery shelling was conducted in the Pul-e-Ali Mughal, Pul-e-Kebali and Farghamanj areas of the Juram district, killing a Tajikistan and an Afghan Taliban fighter and wounding six others including a foreign fighter.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said their fighters attacked security forces posts in Dehn Aab Keeb and Sheikh Wali areas, killing four Afghan troops and wounding numerous others.

He would not say if there any casualties to the Taliban.

A week ago, Afghan officials reported that six Tajikistani fighters were killed after an airstrike in the Warduj district of Badakhshan, a claim rejected by Taliban.