Ground and air attacks by Afghan forces against Taliban kill 51 terrorists

Afghan forces launched ground attacks and air strikes as part of operations against the terrorist Taliban movement during the past twenty-four hours, killing 51 terrorists of the movement, in

Afghan forces launched ground attacks and air strikes as part of operations against the terrorist Taliban movement during the past twenty-four hours, killing 51 terrorists of the movement, in an escalation indicating renewed deadlock in peace talks.

The Afghan Ministry of Defense said that government forces launched 13 ground attacks and 12 air strikes in nine provinces, adding that 51 terrorists were killed while 13 others were injured and six were arrested.

Local officials in the northern province of Balkh said that at least three women and four children were killed in the air strikes, which prompted a number of residents to organize protests in front of the governor’s office.

The government has pledged to send a fact-finding commission to investigate reports of civilian deaths.

At the same time, the Taliban said they launched two additional attacks against security forces in Kunduz province, after sporadic attacks over the past week.