Jalalabad: Taliban’s massive offensive to capture Afghanistan’s Shirzad district in the Nangarhar province has been repulsed and the militant group fled away after leaving 27 bodies behind, the provincial government said in a statement on Saturday.
Taliban, according to the government statement, launched multi-pronged offensive with two car bombs followed by gunfight on Friday night to capture Shirzad district, but the security forces’ “sharp reaction forced the insurgents to retreat”.
More than 2 dozen militants were injured, said the statement cited by Xinhua news agency.
Two security personnel were also killed in the fighting and eight others sustained injuries while defending the besieged Shirzad district, added the statement.
The deadly attack came hours after the Taliban announced launching its annual spring offensive aimed at gaining grounds to topple Afghan government.
However, the Afghan Defence Ministry termed Taliban newly launched offensive as mere propaganda to boost morale of its fighters to continue useless insurgency in the conflict-plagued country.
“Taliban militants launched well-coordinated offensives from three directions on security checkpoints around Kunduz city at 2:00 a.m. local time today but fortunately the attacks have been foiled,” provincial police spokesman Inamudin Rahmani told Xinhua.
According to the official, the militants have suffered casualties and the fighting has been reduced.
However, he said that two civilians had been killed and eight others sustained injuries.
Over a dozen Taliban fighters including 2 foreigners were killed and 10 others injured, the official said, adding they were deafeated.
However, locals in Kunduz city, say that sporadic fighting is continuing and fighting aircraft bombing the militants hideouts around the city. (Agencies)
