KABUL: The Afghan air force conducted multiple strikes on Taliban positionson Saturday that killed more than 30 insurgent fighters, officials said, asPresident Ashraf Ghani once again called for a ceasefire.
The Taliban claimed the strike had killed nearly two dozen civiliansincluding women and children in the latest mass-casualty incident inAfghanistan that came even as peace talks were under way in Qatar.
“This morning, Taliban fighters attacked (Afghan army) positions in …Khanabad district in Kunduz province,” the Defence Ministry said in astatement on Twitter.
The military “intercepted the attack in accordance with ‘active defense’procedures,” the statement added, noting that more than 30 Taliban fightersincluding two commanders were killed.
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In a statement, the Taliban denied its fighters were hit and said 23civilians had been killed. The defence ministry said it was aware of theclaim and would investigate.
Local hospital director Mohammad Naeem Mangal said that three dead andthree wounded civilians had been brought to the facility.
