KABUL, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Afghan security forces have obviously adopted an aggressive position against anti-government militants as more than 100 armed insurgents have been killed mostly by air strikes since Saturday, according to officials.
Warplanes, specially unmanned drones, have proved very lethal and effective in targeting Taliban and Islamic State (IS) groups who are using the guerrilla war in Afghanistan.
In the latest air strikes against militants, 16 Taliban fighters were killed as warplanes pounded their positions in Sangin and Marja districts of the volatile Helmand province, the former stronghold of Taliban outfit in south Afghanistan on Sunday.
Similar strikes against the militants a day earlier also left 12 Taliban fighters dead in the southern Helmand province, according to officials.
Afghan forces using aircraft had also targeted and killed 29 Taliban fighters in the western Badghis province on Saturday.
Air raids against insurgents had killed five militants loyal to the notorious Haqqani network in the eastern Khost province on Saturday.
Similarly, 23 fighters loyal to the ultra-extremist Islamic State (IS) group were killed in Nazian and Kot districts of the eastern Nangarhar province as the U.S. unmanned planes, according to provincial government spokesman Ataullah Khogyani, chased and pounded their hideouts over the weekend.
Both the Taliban and Islamic State groups have speeded up their activities against government interests over the past couple of months.
Taliban militants in the latest offensive against government interests attacked the headquarters of Qala-e-Zal district in the northern Kunduz province Monday morning sparking a fierce battle.
According to police official Mohammad Nabi, the attack which begun at early morning has left five people including four armed insurgents and a police dead.
He also warned that the district would collapse if the central government fails to send reinforcement in the district bordering Tajikistan.
The Taliban outfit, according to its spokesman Zabihullah Majahid, also attacked Khash district in the northern Badakhshan province late Sunday and had captured some areas.
Pentagon chief Ash Carter during his recent visit to Afghanistan said the U.S. government has authorized top American military commander General John Necholson, the commander of NATO-led Resolute Support forces in Afghanistan, to mount pressure on militants.
However, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Majahid has downplayed the U.S. decisions and in contact with media vowed that the Taliban would continue resistance against U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi had said recently that Afghan security forces have been pursuing the enemies this year.
