The Ministry of Defense says at least 31 Taliban including five of their Leaders were killed in clashes between Afghan national defense and security forces and Taliban militants in Herat province.
MoD in a released statement said Tuesday, that ANDSF backed by Air support has launched a clearance operation in Zawal district of Herat province.
According to MOD, 31 Taliban insurgents were killed alongside five of their leaders and further 16 Taliban fighters were wounded during the operation.
The statement added that massive premises under the Taliban have been cleared and an AK47, a PK machine gun, and two motorbikes belonging to the group were seized.
21 Taliban planted landmines aimed at harming civilians and government security forces were also discovered and defused in the same region.
This comes as Local sources in Kandahar province say that the “Hawz-e-Madad” area in the Zherai district of the province has fallen to Taliban fighters.
Provincial council members told the media, that following the fall of the “Hawz-e-Madad” area Taliban have destroyed some parts of the Kandahar-Helmand Highway, the group have also destroyed three culverts by blowing them up with explosives.
Younesi also said that the Taliban blocked the highway to the Traffic, transport trucks, and passenger vehicles are using sideroads in the area to reach their destinations.
On the other hand, Jamal Naser Barakzai, a police spokesman for the Kandahar police HQ denied the fall of the area to the Taliban but added that the Taliban group have setup checkpoints on some parts of the Kandahar-Helmand highway in the Haw-e-Madad area.
The recent violence erupts despite peace efforts in Doha, Qatar.
