KABUL: Afghan security forces, backed by US airstrikes, killed two of the "shadow provincial governors" of the Taliban movement on Sunday as fighting intensified following the collapse of talks aimed at ending the war in Afghanistan, authorities said.
The operations, which began on Saturday night, were intended to thwart the Taliban planned attacks on Afghan forces, said a senior security official in the capital, Kabul, adding that clashes have escalated following the collapse of the diplomatic talks between the United States and the Taliban.
In a statement, the defense ministry said at least 85 Taliban fighters were killed in a joint land and air operation in the southern Paktika province on Saturday night.
The figure was rejected by the Taliban, who said seven fighters had died and 11 were injured, while casualties among security forces were greater than 20.
"The rest of the claims are unfounded," said spokesman for the militant group Zabihullah Mujahid.
The fighting has intensified in various parts of Afghanistan after the abrupt cancellation of the Doha talks by the US president. UU.
Clashes between the militant group and Afghan forces intensified on Saturday in the northern province of Samangan, where the provincial governor in the shadow of the Taliban, Maulvi Nooruddin, was killed along with four fighters in an air strike in the Dara district -i-Soof Payeen, local officials said.
The Taliban, who validated a parallel provincial government structure, separate from the Afghan government, denied that the governor had been killed.
"He (Nooruddin) is alive," Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement.
In a separate incident, Mullah Sayed Azim, a "shadow governor" Taliban for the Anar Dara district in western Farah, was killed in a joint attack by Afghan and foreign forces.
"Sayed Azim was killed along with 34 other insurgents in Anar Dara," said Mohibullah Mohib, spokesman for the Farah provincial police.
Senior security officials in Kabul said several joint operations should be launched against the Taliban and the fighters of the militant group of the Islamic State to avoid attacks against Afghan forces and civilians before the presidential elections on September 28.
The fighting intensified in various parts of Afghanistan last week after the abrupt cancellation of talks with the Taliban of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, with the aim of withdrawing US troops and opening the way to end the 18 year war in Afghanistan. Last week, the Taliban killed four members of the Afghan special force in a car bomb explosion.
The Taliban, who now control most of the territory they have had since 2001, demand the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan.
US forces, which provide significant air support to Afghan troops, have entered an intense offensive mode after the collapse of the talks, a senior security official said.
"The determination to end the Taliban safe havens has gained new momentum," he said, adding that the fighting will end once the Taliban declare a ceasefire.
Some 14,000 US soldiers remain in Afghanistan, training and advising Afghan forces as part of the NATO-led Resolutive Support mission and conducting counterinsurgency operations.
Posted on Dawn, September 16, 2019
Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1505474/afghan-us-forces-kill-two-taliban-shadow-governors