KABUL: Fighting in Afghanistan has intensified as over 70 people have beenkilled over the past 24 hours amid preparations for peace talks to end thewar in the conflict-battered country, officials said Tuesday.

In the latest violent incident, the armed insurgents gunned down an armysoldier in Jawand district of the relatively troubled Badghis provinceTuesday morning, member of provincial council Khan Jan Zafar confirmed.

Meanwhile, Afghan warplanes have targeted the Taliban hideouts in Pashtroddistrict of the western Farah province, killing 16 militants and wounding11 others since Monday, said an army statement released on Tuesday.

The security forces have also killed five militants and injured threeothers in Shahr-e-Safa district of the neighboring Zabul province over thepast 24 hours. Fighting between security forces and the Taliban outfit,according to security officials, have claimed the lives of more than 50fighters with majority of them militants, and dozens other injured in otherparts of the country over the period.

Both the Taliban and Afghan forces have intensified activities amid effortsto bring the warring sides into negotiating table. Meanwhile, MohammadNaeem Wardak, a spokesman for Taliban political office in Doha, hasreportedly accused the government of delaying the release of the inmates,saying no talks would take place unless the process of Taliban prisoners’release completes. – Xinjiang