Fighting breaks out in north Afghanistan

Dawn
ISLAMABAD, Jan 22: Fighting has broken out in a northern province in Afghanistan between the Taliban militia and opposition troops, the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) reported on Saturday.

At least 13 soldiers from both sides have been killed in clashes over the past two days in the district of Sang-i-Charak in Taliban-controlled Jozjan province, the private news service said.

The fighting began when the Taliban launched attacks to drive out troops loyal to opposition commander Ahmad Shah Masood from territory they had occupied in Sang-i-Charak, the agency said.

Taliban troops have flown additional troops into the battle zone by helicopters, as clashes continued on Saturday, it added. No independent confirmation of the report was available.-AFP