Security forces launched the Khalid 96 Military Operation (Winter Operation) in Maidan Wardak province, earlier this week and so far insurgent groups have suffered heavy losses, Maidan Wardak governor’s media office said in a statement on Thursday.
Maiden Wardak is only about 50 kilometers west of Kabul City.
According to the statement, the military operation was carried out in parts of Jalriz district, in the east of the provincial capital Maidan Shar City and at least 10 villages in the district were cleared of anti-government armed militants.
The statement said 24 militants were killed during this operation led by Gen. Raziq, a commander of the Afghan National Army’s Fourth Regiment in the province.
Among those killed in the operation were six Taliban commanders including Mohammad, Massoud, Sharifullah, Khalid, Zainullah and Qari Sami. Another 19 were wounded.
Heavy and light weapons were also seized during the operation, the statement read adding that the operation is ongoing in Kunha Khumar, Tesha and Royan valleys in the province.
Meanwhile, the National Directorate of Security (NDS) said in a separate press release on Thursday that key members of Haqqani network were killed in an operation carried out by the NDS Special Unit in Maidan Wardak – which targeted a large Haqqani stronghold.
The NDS said 21 Haqqani members including five group leaders were killed and 16 others were wounded in the operation.
Three militants were arrested during the operation. The NDS did not say when exactly the operation was carried out.
The statement mentions that Qari Hamidullah, Qari Nudrat, Qari Nusratullah, Mawlawi Ghulam and Qari Hamza, who were all key Haqqani leaders, were killed in the operation.
A stronghold belonging to the militants was destroyed in the NDS operation, the statement added.
On Wednesday, the Maidan Wardak media office said in a statement that at least 16 Taliban insurgents had been killed in a military operation in the province on Tuesday.
According to that statement, the operation was conducted by Afghan police, the army, special forces and commandos.
Sixteen Taliban insurgents were killed including key commanders Qari Yousof, Qari Mustafa and Qari Farid.
Three other insurgents were seriously wounded, the statement added.