An explosion tore through a crowded mosque in western Afghanistan on Friday, killing at least 18 people. including a prominent cleric close to the Taliban
An explosion tore through a crowded mosque in western Afghanistan on Friday, killing at least 18 people. including a prominent cleric close to the Taliban
Ezzatullah's killing, in the eastern province of Nangarhar, was one of a steady stream of assassinations and bombings that have undermined Taliban claims that they have brought greater security to Afghanistan after 40 years of war.
KABUL, Aug. 12 : Taliban militants overran four provincial capitals in north and west of Afghanistan on Monday and Tuesday, bringing to nine the number of Afghan provincial capitals captured by Taliban.
Afghanistan has 34 provinces. And clashes have been continuing in nearly half the provinces within the recent months.
On Monday, Taliban militants claimed that the insurgents took control over Aybak city, the capital of northern Samangan province.
At the same time, the Afghan government said that the national forces repelled a militants' attack on Aybak city Sunday night, killing 20 Taliban militants and injuring eight others.
On Tuesday, the Taliban outfit seized three more cities in north and west of Afghanistan -- Farah city, the capital of Afghanistan's western Farah province, Faizabad, the center of northern Badakhshan, and Pul-e-Khumri, the capital of Baghlan province.
Earlier on Wednesday, Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani traveled to Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province. A security meeting was underway in the city. Taliban militants have a presence around the city, trying to capture Mazar-i-Sharif.
The security situation in the war-torn country has deteriorated as Taliban militants continue heavy fighting against government forces and gain ground since the drawdown of U.S. troops from May 1.
In Afghanistan's capital Kabul, thousands of displaced families arrived from the northern region, living in open grounds and public parks.
(Xinhua)A total of 21 militants were confirmed dead as fighting planes struck Taliban positions in Afghanistan's northern Jawzjan province on Friday, army spokesman in the northern region Mohammad Hanif Rezai said Saturday.
The sorties targeted Taliban positions and hideouts in Murghab, Hasantabin, Atma and adjoining villages along the road linking Jawzjan to the neighboring Sari Pul province on Friday afternoon, killing 21 insurgents and injuring 10 others, the official said.
Taliban militants, who have intensified activities since the start of the U.S.-led forces pullout from Afghanistan early in May and have reportedly overrun about 200 districts, have yet to make comments.
SHIBERGHAN, Afghanistan, June 3: A total of 18 Taliban militants including their commander Qari Mubin have been confirmed dead as fighting planes struck Taliban hideouts in Aqcha district of the northern Jawzjan province on Wednesday, army spokesman in the northern region Mohammad Hanif Rezai said Thursday.
Acting on a tip-off, the fighting planes targeted the Taliban hideouts in Aqcha district on Wednesday afternoon, killing Qari Mubin along with 17 of his armed men and injuring seven others, the official said.
The Taliban outfit that has intensified activities since the formal start of the U.S.-led forces' withdrawal from Afghanistan on May 1 has yet to make a comment. Fierce fighting has been continuing between security forces and Taliban militants in Aqcha district over the past week.
KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct 17: The Taliban unleashed a wave of attacks across Afghanistan on Tuesday, targeting police compounds and government facilities in the country's south, west and east and killing at least 34 people, including civilians, officials said.
