KABUL (Agencies): At least 30 civilians were killed and two others wounded by Taliban in different provinces throughout the country in the past one week.
Both Afghan military and the Taliban militants have stepped up operations in recent month after a historic peace deal between militants and the United States – which was supposed to set the ground for a reduction in hostilities.
National Security Council spokesman Javid Faisal said in a statement that the Taliban insurgents have killed at least 30 civilians and wounded two across nine provinces in the last seven days.
Majority of them were killed by improvised explosive devices planted by the Taliban insurgents on the roadsides, he said. “They need to observe a cease-fire, leave civilians unharmed to set motion for peace talks,” he urged.
This comes amid a process of releasing Taliban prisoners by the Afghan government.
Hundreds of Taliban prisoners are being released and a total of 5,000 of them will be freed in a smooth process to pave the ground for intra-Afghan peace talks.
Taliban militants use landmines and IEDs to target Afghan and foreign forces, but civilians including children and women end up the victims of roadside bombs.
Meanwhile, Afghan security forces have killed at least 27 Taliban militants in an operation conducted in northern Badakhshan province.
Nine other Taliban insurgents were wounded, defense official said. Taliban fighters had a plan to attack some parts of Wardoj and Nasy districts.
The nefarious designs of the Taliban fighters had repressed based on prior intelligence information, spokesman for the ministry of defense, Rohullah Ahmadzai said.
“The Afghan National Defense and Securing Forces (ANDSF) with support of aerial forces have killed 27 Taliban fighters and trashed their evil plan.”
11 Taliban fighters were killed and six others wounded in Wardoj district, while other 16 were killed and three others injured in Nasy district, Mr. Ahmadzai added.
A stronghold belonging to Qari Fasihuddin, Taliban’s show governor for Badakhshan province, had completely destroyed in the attack, the spokesman said.
“Weapon ammunition of the Taliban was also destroyed in the attack.”
Ahmadzai said no civilians were harmed during the operation, and also did elaborate about Afghan forces casualty.
