MAZAR-I-SHARIF - Local officials on Monday said Chamtal district of northern Balkh province has been cleaned of militants during an Afghan forces operation.
An operation launched by the Shahin Military Corps against militants was underway since Saturday night and was ended late on Sunday.
Amanullah Mobin, the commander for the corps, told reporters that around 50 militants suffered casualties and eight others were arrested during the operation. Six security personnel were also killed.
He said that there were no rebels currently in Chamtal district after the operation.
Governor Atta Mohammad Noor who also took part in the offensives, said that the district was destabilized due to negligence of some Afghan Local Police (ALP) commanders.
He accused a number of ALP commanders on patrician discrimination for taking no action against militants. However, he did not name any commander and political parties.
Noor stressed Chamtal district was completely cleaned from militants and said a military base and a number of security posts would be deployed there to ensure security in the district.
A number of the suspects arrested in the operation told media that they were shepherds and had no connection with rebels. (Pajhwok)