24 people dead in 2 days as Afghan security forces mount pressure on Taliban

The government of Afghanistan have stepped up pressure on Taliban militants ahead of the June 14 presidential runoff as two dozen people, mostly militants have been killed since Tuesday.

In the latest mop up kicked off in the northern Baghlan province on Tuesday, 16 people including 15 anti-government insurgents have been killed, an army officer said Wednesday.

"We launched cleanup operations in Baghlan-e-Markazi district of Baghlan province Tuesday and so far today 15 rebels have been killed and 20 others injured," a commander of national army in Baghlan province, Ghulam Farooq Ahmadi told newsmen at the site of operations.

One security personnel has been killed and two others injured during the operations, he added.

Ahmadi also said that the objective of the operation is to strengthening security environment ahead of the presidential runoff.

"The aim of the operations is to ensure security for the presidential runoff," he said, adding the operations will continue till the eviction of all insurgents from the area.

Afghan presidential runoff between leading candidates Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai is slated for June 14 and the final result will be announced on July 22.

Similarly the crackdown of the Afghan forces against militants have left eight Taliban fighters dead and injured four others in the central Wardak province since Tuesday, as the government forces are trying to boost security for the June 14 presidential runoff, a statement of provincial administration sent to media on Wednesday said.

"Eight Taliban militants have been killed, four others injured and four more militants were arrested in Chak, Jaghatoo and Narkh districts of Wardak province since Tuesday," the statement added.

However, the statement didn't say if there were casualties on security personnel.

Conflicts and Taliban-led militancy have gotten new momentum since launching theso-called Talibanspring offensive on May 12 in Afghanistan.

Afghan security apparatus have promised to ensure security for the presidential runoff poll across the country to facilitate all eligibles to use their suffrage rights.