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AFGHANISTAN-UNREST LEAD
Afghan conflict claims over 30 lives in 24 hours
KABUL, Dec 9, 2018 (BSS/XINHUA) – More than 30 people have lost their
lives over the past 24 hours as warring sides have intensified activities
elsewhere in the conflict-battered Afghanistan, officials said Sunday.
In the latest skirmishes, Taliban militants stormed security checkpoints
in Qadis district of the western Badghis province on Sunday morning
triggering a gun battle which lasted for several hours and the militants
after leaving three bodies behind fled away, provincial police spokesman
Naqibullah Amini said.
According to the official, one security personnel and nine other militants
were injured in the fighting.
Similarly, a clash between security forces and the Taliban outfit broke
out late on Saturday in Arghandab district of the southern Zabul province
left three militants dead and injured eight others, said a statement of the
provincial administration released Sunday.
Fighting between government forces and the Taliban militants in the
eastern Ghazni and northern Faryab provinces have left 15 and 10 dead
respectively over the past 24 hours, officials said.
The officials, however, avoided to comment on security forces casualties.
Both the Taliban and the Afghan government security forces’ high ups have
reportedly vowed to mount pressure on armed opponents to gain more grounds
ahead of snowfall and freezing winter in the mountainous country.
BSS/XINHUA/SSS/1902 hrs