KABUL, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Afghan security forces have recaptured 78 villages from the armed insurgents in the western Ghor and neighboring Herat province and extended government control over the past couple of weeks amid increasing crackdowns on the armed groups, Fawad Aman, deputy spokesman for Defense Ministry said Thursday.
According to Aman, 60 villages have been retaken from the Taliban fighters in Shahrak district of Ghor province and 18 more in Chasht district of the neighboring Herat province over the period.
The achievements were made in the wake of mounting pressure on the Taliban fighters over the past one month in parts of the western region.
A cleanup operation codenamed "Tofan-e-Harirod" is underway in the area over the past nearly one month to shrink Taliban's grip.
Around 200 armed militants including Taliban key commanders Mullah Sarajudin and Mullah Aref have laid down arms and surrendered to security forces in Ghor province in the wake of ongoing military operations, Fawad said, adding the crackdown would continue until the region is cleared of the insurgents.
