At least 17 people, including two prominent military officials in Helmand, were killed and 12 others wounded as a series of violence continued across Afghanistan in past 24 hours, local officials have confirmed to Kabul Now. The casualties include civilians, Afghan government forces, and also five Taliban militants.
Omer Zawak, spokesperson for Helmand governor, said that two military officials, namely Mohammad Zahir Torboy and Mohammad Jan Khpalwak, were killed and three government forces wounded in the battle against Taliban militants. He added that the clash erupted between the two sides last night, June 19, in Nahr-e-Seraj district of the southern Helmand province. According to him, the Taliban have also suffered heavy casualties.
In another incident, the Taliban militants have shot dead a local elder in Almar district of the northern Faryab province after the elder was fined around 10,000 afghanis and asked for a week-long deadline to pay the amount for the Taliban. Spokesperson for Faryab police chief, Abdul Karim Yourish, said that the militants have shot dead the local elder today, June 20, after punishing him severely for being elected as head of his community development council in the village of Dehbashi.
On the other hand, a key Taliban commander, Qari Saadat, was killed along with two of his comrades and two other militants wounded in an attack they launched on outpost of pro-government forces in Taloqan, capital city of the northern Takhar province. The incident took place last night, June 19, in Qaratash and Eiltoo areas of Taloqan. Khalil Asir, spokesperson for the province police chief, also confirmed that one member of the People Uprising Forces, a pro-government militia, was dead and another one wounded in the Taliban attack.
As many as six police and local police forces were killed and six others were injured as the result of roadside bomb explosions hit their riding vehicles in the western provinces of Herat and Badghis. The incidents occurred today, June 20, respectively in Kohsan and Moqur districts of the two provinces, as per accounts of the local officials.
The incidents come as four member of a famous Afghan poet and author, Assadullah Walwalji, were killed and some other civilians were wounded yesterday, June 19, after a magnetic bomb attached to their vehicle went off in Paghman district of Kabul province.
The Taliban, however, have not commented regarding none of the deadly incidents.
