Afghan forces launch operation in areas bordering Pakistan

TTP's Mullah Fazlullah is believed to be hiding in Afghanistan's Kunar province, which borders Pakistan's tribal...


Afp December 22, 2014

ASADABAD, AFGHANISTAN: Afghan security forces have launched an operation against militants in an eastern province seen as a rear base for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which carried out a school massacre last week, officials said Monday.

Army chief General Raheel Sharif met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul in the aftermath of the school attack in the Pakistani city of Peshawar, which killed 149 people, mainly children.

sought Ghani's support in defeating the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

TTP leader Mullah Fazlullah is believed to be hiding in Afghanistan's Kunar province, which borders Pakistan's restive tribal areas.

Kunar has been the scene of fierce fighting between local forces and the Afghan Taliban for the past 10 days.

"Afghan security forces have launched joint anti-militant operations in several parts of Dangam district of Kunar province," Dawlat Waziri, deputy defence ministry spokesman, told AFP.

"So far in the operation, 21 armed insurgents have been killed and 33 others wounded," Waziri said, adding that seven security personnel were wounded.

Kunar governor Shujaul Mulk Jalala said more than 1,500 Afghan Taliban fighters attacked remote villages in Dangam.

Jalala said Pakistani Taliban and Lashkar-e-Taiba militants were also battling Afghan security forces in Dangam.

Pakistan has repeatedly asked Afghanistan to capture and hand over Fazlullah.

Each nation has long accused the other of allowing militants to shelter in the border region and launch bloody attacks that threaten regional stability.

The Afghan Taliban have stepped up their attacks as NATO wraps up its combat operations, which end on December 31.

A follow-up mission of about 12,500 US-led NATO troops will stay on to train and support Afghan security forces.

COMMENTS (23)

goldconsumer | 9 years ago | Reply

@افغان ميهن: So by Afghan Economics, bribery is a key factor. If someone doesn't take bribe, then he cannot make both ends meet? Well, this speaks volumes of your Karzai government attitude who you seem to admire so much. And since when did Hayatabad become the financial capital of KPK?. It may be the epicenter of drugs but we would be so glad if it does really turn into a ghost town.

Hopelessness? | 9 years ago | Reply

@افغان ميهن: Do you want to clean AFGH land from terrorists or not? It's a golden opportunity Afgh & their not-so-friendly friends should be waiting for, no? Please think of Afgh poor masses and give them a chance for future. Take your proxy war somewhere else. It's over now! The Sun is Rising on Afghan Soil! Why you crying on this beautiful morning?

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