Security operation kills 45 rebels in S. Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD, May 2 (KUNA) -- At least 45 Taliban rebels, including a local commander, were killed during a security operation in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province, said officials on Monday.
Provincial governor's spokesman, Samim Khpalwak told media that the five-day operations were conducted by Afghan security and defense forces in the Shah Wali Kot district of Kandahar after the militants attacked checkpoints in Kata Sang and Albak areas and blocked the Kandahar-Uruzgan road by planting bombs on the highway.
He further said that the security forces were defusing landmines when the militants attacked them, adding that the forces were already prepared for responding to the attack. Taliban-designated governor Hayatullah alias Haji Lala and his deputy Ahmad Shah alias Himmat were among 45 insurgents killed in the retaliatory attack, claimed Khpalwak.
Provincial police spokesman, Zia Durrani also confirmed the operation saying that Afghan National Army (ANA), police, Afghan Local Police (ALP) and the National Directorate of Security (NDS) personnel participated in the operations aimed to clear the Kandahar-Uruzgan highway and nearby areas of Taliban. Police seized a huge quantity of weapons and ammunitions from the rebels, he added.
The operation came at a time when Taliban rebels have launched their annual spring offensive against the Afghan and foreign forces across Afghanistan rejecting the peace dialogue offer by Afghan government. (end) sbk.nfm