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WORLD> Asia-Pacific
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NATO, Afghan troops move against Taliban
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-06-18 19:29 ARGHANDAB - Afghan and Canadian forces moved into a series of villages outside of southern Afghanistan's largest city Wednesday to root out any Taliban militants there, while an explosion elsewhere killed four British soldiers, officials said.
Troops in Arghandab district just outside of Kandahar exchanged fire with militants during "a few minor contacts" but there were no immediate reports of casualties, NATO spokesman Mark Laity said. Helicopters patrolled the skies and smoke rose from fields after exchanges of fire. A helicopter landed in a field near the fighting and appeared to evacuate a casualty. Large Canadian military vehicles and Afghan police trucks were moving through the region. "As of this morning we've expanded operations into Arghandab," Laity said. "Canadian troops are in support" of the Afghan National Army. Afghanistan's Ministry of Defense on Tuesday said between 300 and 400 militant fighters were operating in Arghandab - a lush region of pomegranate and grape fields that lies 10 miles northwest of Kandahar city, the Taliban's spiritual home. Canadian military officials who patrolled through Arghandab over the last day reported "no obvious signs" of insurgent activity. But that didn't mean there were no Taliban there, a news release said. Pentagon officials said reports of hundreds of Taliban in Arghandab were being overstated. But Afghan officials and witnesses said Taliban fighters destroyed bridges and planted mines after overrunning the Arghandab villages on Monday. Local police said hundreds of farm families have fled, fearing upcoming military operations. Meanwhile, the British Ministry of Defense said Wednesday that four British soldiers were killed when an explosive was detonated against their vehicle during a patrol in neighboring Helmand province on Tuesday. At least one soldier was wounded. It was one of the deadliest attacks of the year on international troops. Four US Marines were killed in a roadside bomb in nearby Farah province earlier this month, but prior to that, no more than three international troops had been killed in any one attack in Afghanistan this year. |
