TALUQAN, Afghanistan, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- At least 13 militants have been killed in Baharak district of the northern Takhar province as cleanup operations have been continuing to evict militants from the area, said an army statement on Thursday.
The mop up was launched Wednesday in the wake of Taliban militants' attempts to tight noose around Takhar's provincial capital Taluqan city and to achieve the goal. The armed militants have captured parts of Baharak district along the border with Taluqan.
Nine more militants, according to the statement, have been killed during the ongoing operations supervised by deputy defense minister General Mohammad Yasin Zia.
The operations backed by fighting planes would last until the relatively troubled province is cleared of the insurgents, said the statement.
Taliban militants who have gained ground in parts of Takhar province including Khawaja, Baharak and Chah Ab districts have yet to comment on the situation.
