Afghan clashes leave 17 dead in N. Afghanistan

FAIZABAD, (Afghanistan): Taliban’s attack on Jarm district of northern Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province was repulsed and the militants fled away after leaving 17 bodies behind, said an army statement released here Monday.
The Taliban militants, according to the statement, launched a massive offensive from different directions early Monday to overrun Jarm district but their attempts failed. A total of 17 militants were killed and over a dozen of others injured in the counter-offensive backed by military planes, the statement further said.
Without providing information on the possible casualties of security forces or civilians, the statement said the troops would continue to chase the insurgents in Jarm and its vicinity to stabilize peace and security there.
The Taliban outfit has yet to make comments.Meanwhile, Five Afghan soldiers were killed as a roadside bomb struck a military vehicle in Abkamari district of the western Badghis province on Sunday, a member of the Provincial Council Mohammad Nasir Nazari said Monday.
A mine planted by militants on a road in Dehistan area of the restive Abkamari district struck a military vehicle Sunday afternoon, killing five soldiers aboard, the official said. Deputy governor for Badghis province Faiz Mohammad Mirzazada also confirmed the incident without providing details.–Agencies