By Zhang Yunlong, Xinhua,
Kabul : One Romanian soldier of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) died and three soldiers sustained injuries Friday when their patrol convoy was ambushed by Taliban militants in southern Afghanistan, an official said.
Taliban militants used rocket launchers, rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns during the attack which took place in Shahjoy district of Zabul province on the Kabul-Kandahar highway, Faridullah Khan, deputy police chief in Zabul, told Xinhua.
He said one vehicle of the Romanian military convoy was damaged. In the same district, Taliban militants Friday attacked a logistics convoy of Afghan and foreign forces, killing an Afghan security guard.
Romania has contributed some 570 troops to the 52,900-strong multi-national ISAF, which are deployed with UN mandate across Afghanistan, fighting militants and helping in reconstruction.
Elsewhere, Afghan security forces when attacked by Taliban rebels in Tarin Kowt district of neighboring Uruzgan province killed four militants Friday, Uruzgan’s police chief Juma Gul Himat told Xinhua.
He said one policeman died in the battle and during an ensuing search operation Afghan forces captured 10 suspected militants in the area.
The Taliban, fighting Afghan government and international forces since being ousted from power in 2001, has taken the responsibility for all the above attacks.
The Taliban militants continue to exert its influence through nationwide bombing attacks and ambushes and insurgency-related conflicts and valence left as many as over 1,500 people dead this year.
The past three weeks saw the fiercest militants’ attacks this year in the war-battered country.