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US Pounds Taliban Convoy in Afghan South
 [Quqnoos] At least 21 Taliban insurgents were killed in a US-led air strike in the south-western Afghan province of Nimroz, officials said on ThursdayThe US jet fighters bombed three Taliban vehicles in the Chahar Borjak District of Nimroz province on the Afghan-Pakistani border on Tuesday, killing all insurgents on board, Nimroz Governor, Ghulam Dastgir Azad said. The militants were heading to launch an offensive on an Afghan border police station while the US jet fighters dropped bombs on the vehicles, Governor Azad further said. US troops were not available to comment on the bombing. The governor of the remote Afghan province added that no civilian casualties occurred in the air raid which, according to him, took place in a non-residential area. The provincial Police Chief Gen Abdul Jabar Pardeli said the air strike was a major blow in the Taliban network in the relatively stable Nimroz, comparing to the neighbouring provinces of Helmand and Farah. Nimroz province, bordering Pakistan in the south and Iran in the west, have seen a wave of Taliban-led insurgency over the past one year. Afghan officials say that Taliban insurgents have been trying to expand their influence in Nimroz province. Taliban militants are present at large groups in the districts of Dil Aram, Kashrod, Chahar Borjak and Gang, according to officials. Taliban have not made any comments over the claims. Posted by: Fred 2009-09-25 |
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