Afghan Security Forces Kill 44 Taliban Terrorists Including Three Local Commanders In Kunduz Province

At least 44 Taliban terrorists have been killed in Afghanistan’s Kunduz province as security forces stepped up operations in the area, an Afghan army statement said on Saturday (29 August).

According to the statement, three local commanders of the armed group were among those killed in the operations backed by warplanes in the restive Imam Sahib district, reports Xinhua news agency.

Citing a senior army commander, the statement said that 37 insurgents were also injured in ongoing crackdown.

Taliban terrorists, who are active in parts of Kunduz province, were yet to comment on the development.

The development comes amid the ongoing efforts for the United States-backed peace talks that is set to start next week between Afghan govt and the Taliban to negotiate a political settlement to the country’s long conflict.

The proposed dialogue stems from a landmark pact the United States sealed with the Taliban in February to promote a negotiated settlement to the Afghan war, the longest US overseas military intervention.

Abdullah Abdullah, who leads the state peacemaking High Council for National Reconciliation, told a seminar in Kabul his team “is well prepared” to enter what he referred to as intra-Afghan negotiations.

Following Adullah's remarks, Afghan Foreign Minister Haneef Atmar confirmed to an online forum in Washington that his government has moved to finally settle the dispute over a prisoner swap that had prevented the Taliban from joining the talks, reports Voice of America.

(With inputs from IANS)