Nato, Afghans claim to kill 130 Taliban in Kunduz

KUNDUZ – Nato and Afghan officials claimed yesteray their forces had killed at least 130 Taliban fighters in a major operation over the past week in an area of Afghanistan’s north where militant activity has surged.

A combined force of 700 Afghan troops and 50 Nato soldiers cleared villages of fighters, killing more than 130 insurgents including eight Taliban commanders during a five-day operation, Nato spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Todd Vician said.Kunduz province governor Mohammad Omar told Reuters the combined force had killed 133 fighters during the operation, which took place in and around Kunduz’s Char Dara district.However, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said only five fighters had died, and called the death toll given by Nato and Afghan officials ‘propaganda.’The Nato-led force deployed air strikes against armed insurgents but believed no civilians were among those killed, Vician said. No Nato or Afghan troops were killed, he added. – Nampa-Reuters