Combined forces kill two, detain nine Senior officer gunned down
31 January, 2013
JALALABAD: Combined force killed two individuals and detained nine other during an operation in Khgyani district of eastern Ningarhar province earlier today, ISAF and local authorities said Wednesday. The operation was conducted in Miangan village, Qilgho region, in which Afghan and foreign forces killed two people and detained nine after exchange of fire, Haji Said Rahman, administrator of Khugyani district, told Afghan Islamic Press (AIP). He said the combined force also seized two Ak-47 rifles and a pistol. Local residents, however, said those killed and detained during the operation were civilians. "Foreign forces launched operation in the area earlier today. Several people who were irrigating crops tried to move to safer place after the arrival of foreign forces but the troops opened fire on them, killing two on the spot and capturing nine others," a local resident told AIP. He identified the deceases as Khalilullah son of Abdul Raziq and Shahzada son of Toor, saying "both are civilians." . "An Afghan and coalition force killed two insurgents and detained nineothers after being fired upon during a security operation in search of aTaliban facilitator in Khugyani district, Nangarhar province," ISAF press office told Afghan Islamic Press (AIP). " No civilians were harmed during the operation," ISAF claimed. The incident happened days after security forces killed two brothers in Barak-e-Barak district of Logar province on Jan. 26. Though local officials and resident had said the deceased were civilians, ISAF termed them as anti-government gunmen. Meanwhile, unidentified gunmen shot dead an official of district education department in eastern Ningarhar province today, an official said Wednesday. The gunmen opened fire on Mufti Painda Muhammad, head of Nazian district education inspection office, in Ambar Khana area of Batikot district at approximately 10:15 a.m. (local time) and killed him, Muhammad Asif Shinwari, spokesman for Ningarhar education department, told Afghan Islamic Press (AIP). He said the assailants made their escape good, adding motives behind the killing were not clear. The deceased was the resident of Ambar Khana area. Taliban, police make conflicting claims: SHABARGHAN (AIP): A Talib fighter was killed and two others wounded after a clash with police in Qushtepa district of northern Jowzjan province yesterday, police claimed Wednesday. Taliban, however, said their fighters did not suffer any casualties in the clash. Taliban attacked a police check post in the limits of Qushtepa district, sparking a gun battle, Abdul Aziz Ghairat, police chief of Jowzjan province, told Afghan Islamic Press (AIP). He said a fighter was killed and two wounded in the clash while their was no damage to police. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah, however, told AIP that Taliban did not suffer any damage, adding five government troops were wounded in the firefight in Gardan Qarya area of Qushtepa district. He claimed that Taliban also seized a police motorcycle. Jowzjan is considered to be a relatively peaceful province in northern Afghanistan. Ministry says ANA casualties decreased: KABUL (AIP): The casualties to Afghan National Army (ANA) troops have decreased in the last six months, the Ministry of Defence has said. Talking to reporters in Kabul on Wednesday, the defence ministry spokesman General Zabir Azimi said that 463 ANA troops lost their lives over the past six months compared to previous number of 472. "The IED proved cause of most of the casualties," he added. Recently, some western media, while quoting British defence minister, said casualties of ANA troops have increased over the past six months. "We received 80 percent of military operations from the foreign troops this year. Keeping in view the security transition, casualties to ANA troops have decreased. End.
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