By Xinhua,
Kabul : Clashes between the police and Taliban militants have left over 16 militants dead in the restive southern Afghanistan, the police said on Tuesday.
Abdullah Khan, deputy police chief of Kandahar province, told Xinhua that a group of Taliban rebels ambushed and engaged with the police Monday evening in Panj Wayi district.
“The police returned fire and called for reinforcement,” Khan said. “One hour’s fighting left five rebels dead but caused no casualties of police.”
Meanwhile, Juma Gul Humat, police chief of Uruzgan province, confirmed that the police on Monday afternoon launched three separate operations targeting Taliban militants respectively in the Khash Uruzgan, Chora and Charchinu districts.
“Eleven militants were killed including two commanders and five policemen were also wounded in the clashes,” Humat said.
Afghanistan has been the scene of increasing insurgency led by Taliban militants in terms of suicide bombings and ambushes though a 70,000-strong foreign troops are deployed.
Conflicts and Taliban-led insurgency have left more than 2,500 people including over 700 civilians so far this year in the war-torn country.