By Zabihullah Tamanna
KABUL
The Afghan authorities are claiming to have killed 100 Taliban militants in 24 hours of fighting across eight provinces.
Defense ministry officials also claimed on Thursday to have wounded 96 Taliban in operations across Kandahar, Helmand, Logar, Daikundi, Kunar, Laghman, Khost and Uruzgan.
Eleven Afghan government troops were said to have died in the fighting, which also saw a large amount of weapons and ammunition seized from the militant group.
According to defense ministry spokesman, General Zahir Azimi, the 11 army fatalities died in direct firefights, artillery attacks and roadside bombs.
“Unfortunately, 11 army soldiers embraced martyrdom during the operations conducted to protect the nation from terror and bloodshed,” Azimi said.
Taliban militants have intensified their attacks in cities and on Afghan security forces’ outposts as part of their spring offensive which began April.
Afghanistan has seen an upsurge in violence in 2015. The ministry of defense claims it is the Taliban’s attempt to gain leverage in peace talks with the government, which are expected to resume this summer.
