Security

Afghan forces capture 40 Taliban militants in Kandahar

By Raziq Kandahari

Local authorities in Kandahar present 40 Taliban detainees to the media at the compound of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) in Kandahar city. [Provincial governor's press office/Facebook]

Local authorities in Kandahar present 40 Taliban detainees to the media at the compound of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) in Kandahar city. [Provincial governor's press office/Facebook]

KANDAHAR -- Afghan security forces recently captured 40 Taliban fighters in Kandahar Province, say officials.

The detained militants were shown to the media at the National Directorate of Security (NDS) compound in Kandahar on July 13.

"Last week, NDS forces captured 40 fighters in Spin Boldak District who were preparing to travel... to acquire fresh combat techniques after perpetrating destructive activities in 10 provinces of the country," Kandahar Governor Hayatullah Hayat told reporters.

"The terrorists have confessed to their involvement in attacks on security targets and assassinations of tribal elders and government employees as well as bombings in a number of provinces of the country," said Hayat.

One of the detainees, who declined to give his name, said in an interview that he was involved in terrorist attacks in Helmand and Kandahar provinces.

"In addition to Kandahar, we fought in the past against the police and army in Helmand as well... we now regret our actions," he said.

'Shameful' militants

The arrests come as Afghan forces step up their operations in the province.

"In order to reduce militants' activities, we have elevated our operations in all of Kandahar's districts, especially in border areas, and we have captured key Taliban figures," said Kandahar NDS Director Barakatullah Chamkani said in an interview.

"This is a group who kills its brothers in exchange for 10,000 AFN ($124) -- which is shameful," said Chamkani.

"Last week, we killed 106 terrorists," Kandahar Police Chief Maj. Gen. Tadeen Khan Achakzai told Salaam Times on July 17.

"After the [Taliban] fighters attacked Marouf District, international forces and Afghan air forces conducted 17 air strikes on them that left 106 [Taliban] fighters dead and many injured," he said.

"Yesterday afternoon, 16 [Taliban] fighters were killed in fighting between police and terrorists on the Kandahar-Uruzgan Highway, in the Chinar area of Shah Wali Kot District," added Achakzai.

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