Key figure among 12 Taliban held in Kunduz, Jawzjan

KUNDUZ CITY/SHIBERGHAN (Pajhwok): Security forces have arrested a dozen Taliban militants, including a senior figure Qari Salim, in northe Kunduz and Jawzjan provinces, officials said on Monday.

Kunduz police chief Mohammad Qasim Jangal Bagh told Pajhwok Afghan News Qari Salim was arrested along with six accomplices during an oveight operation in Khanabad district. Two Taliban gunmen were killed during the night raid.

He identified Salim as a Taliban key member who directed insurgent activities in Khanabad and on the Kunduz-Khanabad road and was a trainer of suicide bombers and roadside bombing.

With the arrest of Qari Salim, the Taliban’s morale had sunk and they were disintegrated now, the police chief claimed.

Separately, another four Taliban militants have been arrested in Mangajak district of Jawzjan province, police spokesman Mohammad Reza Ghafori said. The four were hiding in a ruined structure when apprehended.

Ghafori said the detainees during initial investigation had confessed to having links with Qari Hafizullah, Taliban’s shadow district chief for Aqcha district.

In Faizabad district, security forces detained Maulvi Numan, Taliban’s military council head for Jawzjan. Security forces also recovered three motorcycles from the detainee.

But Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed seven security men were killed and five others wounded during a clash in Mangajak district.

He accused Abdul Rashid Dostum-led militia of detaining and torturing civilians in the province in the name of Taliban.

Jawzjan police chief Brig. Gen. Rahmatullah Turkistani said the Taliban suffered causalities in the oveight clash in Mangajak district.

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