Afghan conflicts claim 27 lives, 11 militants hand in weapons

Afghan conflicts have claimed the lives of 27 armed militants from both Taliban and Islamic State (IS) groups; while 11 others laid down arms in the militancy-hit country since Tuesday, officials said Wednesday.

The government forces' aircrafts in crackdown against militants pounded Taliban hideouts in Gomal district of the eastern Paktika province on Tuesday, killing 17 militants, Afghan Defense Ministry said in a statement released here on Wednesday. "Acting upon intelligence reports, the Afghan National Army (ANA) air force carried out air raids against militants' positions in Gomal district, killing 17 Taliban terrorists on the spot and also destroyed an explosive-laden car," the statement of Defense Ministry asserted.

Units of Afghan national army's ground forces, according to the statement of Defense Ministry, also stormed the hideouts of Islamic States (IS) militants in Rodat district of the eastern Nangarhar province on the same day Tuesday, killing 10 fighters of the outfit.

Similarly, unidentified armed men, obviously Taliban militants, shot and injured head of health department Mohammad Hashim Sayyedi, in the eastern Khost province on Wednesday morning, provincial government spokesman Mohammed Mubariz Zadran told Xinhua.

In a related development, 11 armed militants laid down arms and gave up fighting in Gazara district of the western Herat province on Wednesday, Herat provincial governor Mohammad Asif Rahimi said in his remarks in a ceremony to welcome the former militants.

However, Taliban militants, who have challenged the Afghan government to regain power, are yet to make comment. Enditem