U.S. soldiers killed about two dozen suspected Taliban militants in southern Afghanistan after their convoy came under attack. The suspected militants ambushed the convoy Saturday near the town of Spinboldak, said U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Douglas Lefforge. The American troops returned fire, killing five attackers and pursuing the rest into the surrounding hills. U.S. Apache helicopter gunships chased the group and killed an estimated 19 of the suspected Taliban, he said. There were no coalition casualties.
| To which I can only say: "Heh heh!" |
Also Saturday, some 60 suspected Taliban fighters attacked a border post in southern Afghanistan with heavy machine guns and assault rifles before escaping across the border into Pakistan.
None of the Afghan soldiers at the post were hurt in the three-hour battle late Saturday at the Shero Obah government post, said Khalik Khan Achekzai. They called about 100 Afghan soldiers and 20 U.S. Special Forces for assistance from Kandahar, about 60 miles away. Two of the suspected Taliban fighters died and five were injured in the border attack, said another government official, Fazluddin Aga. "They (the attackers) came from the direction of Pakistan. When we sent more troops with U.S. soldiers, they crossed the border and returned to Pakistan," Achekzai said. The U.S. Special Forces called in helicopter gunships, which pounded the area.
| The Paks, of course, know nothing... |
FOLLOWUP, from Pak Daily Times...
Speaking by telephone from an unknown location, Taliban official Mulla Abdul Rauf said at least 20 government soldiers had been killed in the fighting, which involved 200 guerrillas. âOne of our comrades was also killed,â he said. âThe Taliban fighters later left the area.â
| The Afghans say none of their guys were hurt... |
Achakzai said the clash involved at least 75 Taliban fighters led by former minister Mullah Abdul Razzaq, commander Hafiz Abdur Rahim, and Rauf, a former provincial governor. He said the guerrillas came from the Pakistani side of the border. Rauf said Taliban fighters had also attacked a US base, but it was unclear how much damage had been inflicted. He said the attacks were planned in a meeting three days ago the Taliban, Mullah Omar.
"Okay, here's the plan: Rahim, you take a bunch of your boys and stage a pointless attack from Pakistan. Razzaq, you take a bunch of your boys and attack from... ummm... Pakistan. And Rauf, you take a bunch of your boys and attack from... from... uhhh..."
"How 'bout if I attack from Pakistan, boss?"
"Sounds good."
"Gosh, boss! That's a brilliant plan!"
"Now, get out there and die!" |
An official with Pakistanâs border security force, Major Shaukat, said Pakistan had beefed up security along its border after the fighting broke out.
| He's probably referring to their border with Iran... |
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