Afghan forces clear Khamab as Gen. Dostum starts his 2nd crackdown

KHAAMA PRESS, Oct 23 2015, 9:45 am
The Afghan national security forces have taken full control of Khamab district in northern Jawzjan province around three weeks after the Taliban militants captured the district.
According to the local security officials, the district was fully cleared of the militants presence with the Afghan security forces inflicting casualties to the militants during the operations led by the Vice President Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum.
Gen. Dostum arrived in Jawzjan province on Tuesday, a month after concluding a major operation against the Taliban militants in northern parts of the country.
He told reporters on Wednesday that the operations have kicked off to push the Taliban militants out of Khamab district.
The local security officials have said at least 20 Taliban militants were killed during the operations in Khamabad and Afghan forces will head towards Qarqeen district after clearing Khamab.
Provincial security chief Abdul Hafeez Khashehi said at least five personnel belonging to the public uprising forces against Taliban insurgents also lost their lives during the operations.
The Taliban militants have not commented regarding the reports so far.
It was expected that the operations led by Gen. Dostum would kick off in Ghormach district of Faryab province which fell to Taliban control recently.
However, the operation in Khamab district was reportedly launched after receiving requests from the National Security Council, sources close to Gen. Dostum added.http://www.khaama.com/afghan-forces-clear-khamab-as-gen-dostum-starts-his-2nd-crackdown-on-taliban-1653