Afghan troops, backed by Western airforce, killed at least 60 militants in a battle in southeastern Afghanistan near Pakistan border, Afghanistan’s intelligence agency, National Directorate of Security, said on Wednesday.
Fighting began when about 300 insurgents from the Haqqani militant network and other foreign fighters tried to storm Afghan forces’ bases in Ziruk district of Paktika province, the intelligence service of the country said in a statement.
Paktika shares a long and porous border with lawless areas in Pakistan. It is believed that foreign fighters and the Haqqani network, allies of the Afghan Taliban, are based in the region. – REUTERS
