LOC19:48
16:48 GMT
KABUL, June 21 (KUNA) -- An Afghan spokesman Saturday said that the recent
spike in insurgency in Afghanistan was the result of a controversial peace
deal between Taliban and the government of Pakistan.
General Zahir Azimi, spokesman for Afghanistan's Defence Ministry, told a
news conference that the talks between the two sides had resulted in more
attacks on the Afghan side of the border.
Addressing the media gathering, another senior Afghan officer General Sher
Mohammad Karimi said the casualties mounted due to improvised explosive
attacks by the militants.
Giving details about the operation against Taliban in Arghandab district of
the strategic Kandahar province, Karimi said the Afghan and NATO troops had
killed over 90 Taliban there.
Several villages of the lush green Arghandab district were seized by
Taliban and they remained in control of the area for three days till they were
pushed back as a result of joint operation by NATO and Afghan forces.
Karimi said they had counted 94 bodies of militants killed in the
operation. Majority of those killed were foreigners, he told a questioner.
Casualties among foreign troops have increased in the month of June.
According to unofficial figures, 32 NATO and coalition soldiers have been
killed since the start of the current month in Afghanistan. (end)
gk.bs
KUNA 211948 Jun 08NNNN