Afghanistan, US troops attack Taliban

Kandahar (Afghanistan), July 8: Afghan and US-led forces attacked Taliban near the southern town of Kandahar today as part of their response to the heaviest surge in Taliban attacks since 2001.

US coalition forces have mounted offensives in eastern and southern Afghanistan in recent weeks aimed at pushing back the insurgents as a NATO peacekeeping mission prepares to take over in the south.

Three coalition soldiers and one Afghan soldier were wounded and five Taliban believed killed in the push into the Panjwai district, about 25 km west of Kandahar, said a force spokeswoman.

''They have been involved in numerous fights ... it's a joint operation to clear out Taliban from this area,'' said the spokeswoman, Captain Julie Roberge.

She did not give the nationality of the wounded coalition soldiers. The operation was continuing, she said.

The level of violence in Afghanistan this year has taken both the government and its Western backers by surprise.

A NATO peacekeeping force is due to take over from US forces in the south at the end of July and the violence has raised some fears that the troops are getting embroiled in a war.

The district attacked today has seen fighting for two months, since many Taliban were found to have infiltrated the area.

US, Canadian and Afghan forces conducted a sweep of Panjwai in May. About 230 Taliban have been killed in the district, according to coalition and Afghan officials, along with dozens of Afghan police and troops, two Americans and a Canadian.

Foreign forces have their main southern base at the airport outside Kandahar. The sprawling base has come under rocket attack several times recently; 10 people were wounded last week.

As the attack on Panjwai got going, police in Kandahar town raided mosques and detained more than 100 suspected militants.

''There are some among them who are supporting and working for the Taliban,'' said provincial police chief Azizullah Wardak.

Scores of residents later gathered outside police headquarters seeking the release of relatives, a witness said.

In a separate incident, Taliban attacked coalition troops in Zabul province, north of Kandahar, late yesterday. Five coalition soldiers were wounded and one Taliban killed, Roberge said.

A resurgent Taliban are thriving on opium money and getting help from over the border in Pakistan, Afghan and US officials say.

Afghanistan and the US military say they expect the offensives and extra NATO forces to quell the violence later this year.

Reuters