LOC16:59
13:59 GMT
ISLAMABAD, Dec 28 (KUNA) -- At least six rebels were killed and three
others were wounded during a security forces operation in northern Faryab
province of Afghanistan, said officials on Saturday.
The 209th Shahin Military Corps spokesman, Maj. Mohammad Reza said that the
weeklong operation by the Afghan National Army (ANA) and police ended on
Saturday.
He added that two militant hideouts were destroyed and 12 villages in Atta
Khan area were cleared of fighters as a result of the offensive. He said that
two army soldiers were also wounded.
The Civil society council members of Afghanistan, in a recent meeting with
United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) representatives,
expressed concerns over insecurity in the province. They demanded more
security during the upcoming presidential elections and said that if the
situation remained unchanged, people neither would be able to cast their votes
nor candidates dare launch their election campaigns.
The Shahin Military Corps spokesman said, "The operation was aimed to set
up security checkpoints in the areas and improve the security environment for
the upcoming election campaign." According to local media reports, a
Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousaf Ahmadi, claimed to have killed four soldiers of
ANA during the offensive. The upcoming presidential and provincial council
polls are scheduled to take place on April 5, 2014. (end)
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KUNA 281659 Dec 13NNNN