13 Taliban militants killed in northeast Afghanistan

Afghan national army troops killed 13 Taliban militants during a cleanup operation in Afghanistan’s Northeastern province of Badakhshan. Provincial police chief, Colonel Jahangir Karamat, said on Saturday that the offensive was carried out in the Wurduj district of the province, located 315 kilometers (195 miles) Northeast of Kabul, last Thursday, press tv reported. He added that a Taliban militant commander, identified as Mulla Hafiz, was killed in the heavy exchange of fire. Karamat further noted that two policemen were injured during the operation. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said eight Afghan army soldiers were killed and two tanks destroyed during the clashes in the Wurduj district. The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but the country is still gripped by insecurity. In late April, the Taliban announced the start of their annual "offensive" against US-led and Afghan forces, vowing a new wave of attacks across Afghanistan. The militant group said it would use "every possible tactic" to inflict casualties on Afghan and US-led forces. They specifically mentioned insider attacks, and bomb attacks. The announcement prompted the Afghan authorities to beef up security in major cities across the country, including the capital city of Kabul.