KABUL, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- At least 24 militants had been killed elsewhere in Afghanistan as Afghan security forces increased pressure on the armed opposition groups, officials said.
In the latest crackdown on militants, the government forces stormed Taliban hideouts outside Pul-e-Alam the capital of eastern Logar province early on Wednesday, killing four insurgents and capturing 11 others, provincial government spokesman Shahpor Ahmadzai said.
According to Ahmadzai, two important commanders of the Taliban group namely Mullah Mohammad Gul alias Burhan and Mullah Azim are also among those killed in the raids.
In targeting Taliban hideouts, the government forces launched operations against the armed outfit in parts of Andkhoi and Qurghan districts in the northern Faryab province late Tuesday night, killing eight militants including a key commander Qari Hamidullah and his deputy Mistary Mahmoud on the spot, an army spokesman in the northern region Abdul Hadi Jamal said.
According to Jamal, 12 more fighters including 10 militants and two security personnel were injured in the ongoing operations.
Similarly, the government forces in operations against Taliban group in the eastern Ghazni province have killed at least 12 militants and captured 18 others in Khogiani district of the troubled province since Tuesday, Aref Nuri, the spokesman for Ghazni's provincial governor, said Wednesday.
Four more insurgents were injured in the fighting, the official contended.
The official, however, avoided to comment on the casualties of security personnel.
Warring sides in Afghanistan, usually exaggerate the casualties of the opponents and it is difficult to get verification with independent sources.
Afghan observers believe that the warring sides would do their best to gain more ground and consolidate positions ahead of snowfall and freezing winter in Afghanistan.
