FARAH, Afghanistan, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Afghan National Defense and Security Forces have eliminated Taliban militants' 13 strongholds and defense positions in the country's western Farah province, a local official said Saturday.
The operation was conducted late on Friday destroying 13 of the Taliban outfit's heavily fortified strongholds and defense positions in Nawabad and Dasta Gul villages of Pusht Koh district, Muhibullah Muhib, provincial police spokesman, told Xinhua.
"Three roadside bombs, planted by the militants to target security forces and innocent civilians, have also been detected and defused during the special operation," he added.
Taliban militants have not commented on the incident so far.
Militants in Afghanistan have intensified their activities within the last weeks even after a peace deal was signed between the United States and the Taliban in Doha and a joint declaration was issued by the U.S. side and the Afghan government in late February.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Afghanistan in mid February, Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has frequently called on the Taliban to agree on a ceasefire to facilitate peace talks and most importantly the fight against the COVID-19, but clashes continued in the conflict-ravaged nation.
