KABUL, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- At least 20 militants have reportedly been killed in the eastern Paktika and northern Kunduz provinces as Afghan security forces conducted airstrikes against Taliban hideouts on Monday night, officials said Tuesday.
Acting upon intelligence reports, the government forces launched air sorties against Taliban hideouts in Barmal district of Paktika late Monday night, killing 13 insurgents on the spot, provincial police spokesman Shah Mohammad Arian told Xinhua.
The official also asserted that Mullah Turabi, a key commander of Haqqani network, the military wing of Taliban group, is also among those killed in the air raid.
Airstrikes against militants have taken place in the wake of deadly attack on Kabul Intercontinental Hotel on Saturday night which left nearly two dozen dead and Taliban outfit has claimed responsibility.
In Afghanistan, police, in addition to keeping law and order in society, have also been fighting alongside national army units elsewhere in the war-battered country to stabilize peace and security.
In similar airstrikes, Afghan air force targeted Taliban hideouts and positions in the northern Kunduz and Baghlan provinces Monday night, killing seven insurgents, local officials said.
In the first raid, the security forces aircraft targeted the hideouts of Taliban militants in Khan Abad district of Kunduz province, killing five armed militants and injuring five others, governor for Khan Abad district Hayatullah Amiri said Tuesday.
Afghan air force also struck Taliban's positions in Dand-e-Shahabudin area of Baghlan province late Monday night, killing two militants and injuring 11 others, an army spokesman in the northern region Nasratullah Jamshidi said.
