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70 Taliban insurgents killed near Pak border

by Sanjay Jha | July 28, 2008 at 11:42 pm

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In the intense fight at Pakistan- Afghanistan border more than 70 taliban militants have been killed. NATO forces have mounted the vigilence around the border areas after news of militiant hideouts around those areas.

At least 70 insurgents were killed near the Pakistan border in Afghanistan when helicopter gunships and ground-fighting forces repulsed an attack by Taliban-led insurgents.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) force said that insurgents numbering over 100, tried to capture the Spera district centre in Khost on Sunday, 15 kilometre from the border with Pakistan, with guns and rocket-propelled grenades.

Police and soldiers from NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) surrounded the attackers and resorted to air strikes comprising heavy machine-gun fire from helicopters.

"As they retreated, international military air forces came in and bombed them. Fifty to 70 Taliban have been killed," said Khost Governor Arsala Jamal.

Jamal further said, "The rebels were able to get very close to the district headquarters in Spera before the air forces arrived."