Saturday, July 16, 2011 – Local officials in southern Afghanistan on Saturday said, at least two Taliban local commanders were killed in Afghan and NATO forces operation in southern Helmand province on Thursday night.
Officials further added, a number of other insurgents were also killed during the operation which was carried out by joint forces in Musa Qala district of Helmand province.
On the other hand, at least 35 other militant insurgents were killed following a joint operation in Argon district of Paktika province on Thursday, a spokesman for Helmand governor said.
The operation was conducted in the named district after NATO-led international forces convoy came under fire by militant insurgents.
Officials said, Afghan and NATO forces did not suffer any casualty during the operation.
As the security transition from NATO-led international forces to Afghan security forces is due to begin in a few days, the joint forces have doubled their operation in various regions of Afghanistan to clear militants and pave the way for the security transition.
Afghan forces are going to receive security responsibility for the seven districts and provinces at the first stage of security transition from the NATO forces.
The process is expected to be completed by the end of 2014 which is a deadline for the complete withdrawal of all foreign forces from the country.
At the first phase of foreign forces withdrawal from the country, around 650 US troops on Wednesday left Afghanistan based on President Barack Obama’s withdrawal plan.
These are the first US troops who headed home as the first part of the US withdrawal.
Around a third of 100,000 US troops are going to leave Afghanistan based US president Barack Obama’s decision, by the end of 2012.
