More than 50 militants were killed in a major Afghan and NATO operation against a Haqqani network camp in eastern Afghanistan, used as a staging area for the slain fighters who were brought over allegedly from across the border to carry out attacks in the war-torn country, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said on Friday.
The 48-hour air and ground operation was conducted in the rugged terrain of Paktika province, known to be a hub of activity for the Taliban-linked Haqqani network, on the frontier with Pakistan.
“In Sar Rowzah district, Paktika province, security forces including Afghan special forces killed more than 50 insurgents during a security clearance of a known Haqqani network foreign fighter encampment site,” ISAF said. Combined international and Afghan forces pushed the insurgents out of the area but were intermittently engaged by them throughout the day, it said in a statement.
Officials in Paktika province were unreachable for comment, but the head of the neighbouring Urgun district confirmed heavy fighting between insurgents and combined Afghan and foreign forces in the area.
An AFP reporter in neighbouring Khost province meanwhile witnessed more than 30 missiles fired from the US-run Salerno military base on Thursday night, saying it was more than ever before. The coalition said after a tip-off about the camp, its forces along with Afghan special forces, battled heavily armed insurgents throughout Thursday night and well into Friday, Online news agency reported. It said the insurgents fought from several sites such as caves and fortified bunkers.
