Kabul (SunstarTV Bureau): During clashes in between security forces and Taliban militants in Afghanistan’s Kunduz province on Friday, at least 26 people were killed, reported.
According to top official report, “In the clash 16 pro-government militiamen including their commander Abdul Hakim and 10 Taliban rebels were killed and nine others including five rebels were injured.”
As per locals’ given statements, hundreds of Taliban militants launched massive offensive on pro-government militiamen in Tepa Akhtar area of Khanabad district early morning triggering heavy fighting which lasted for three hours.
Mohammad Yusuf, head of Kunduz provincial council, also confirmed the clash, saying that delay in dispatching reinforcement led to the death of 16 pro-government militiamen.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Zalmay Khalilzad, Washington’s special envoy for Afghanistan reconciliation, during which they “discussed the way forward” for long-lasting peace in the war-torn country.
On Thursday along with official Twitter handle, Blinken said, “Great meeting with Ambassador Khalilzad to discuss the way forward in Afghanistan… Continuing to protect the US against the threat of terrorism, achieving a just and durable political settlement there, and cementing a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire.”
Also in a separate tweet, Khalilzad, who has negotiated with the Taliban for 18 months to reach an agreement, said that during the meeting, “he had the opportunity to brief Blinken on the Afghanistan peace process in the context of our continuing policy review”.
Thursday’s development came as no meeting has been held between the Afghan Republic and the Taliban negotiators in Doha over the last 19 days after talks resumed between the two sides on January 5 following a break.
The Afghan peace talks, which started on September 12, 2020, following the US-Taliban peace deal inked last February to end the war, paving the way for the withdrawal of thousands of US forces in Afghanistan and facilitate the intra-Afghan dialogue, has made little progress to achieve the goal.
The war in Afghanistan, which has caused about 2,400 US military deaths, is the longest one in American history. Currently there are about 2,500 US troops in Afghanistan.
