KABUL, Oct 30 (AFP) - International forces in Afghanistan Saturday fought off a Taliban attack on a combat post in a remote and mountainous region bordering Pakistan, killing more than 30 insurgents, NATO said.
Insurgents attacked the post “from all directions” using rocket-propelled grenades, mortars and small arms fire, NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement.
Five ISAF soldiers were injured, it said.
The incident took place at 1.30 am Saturday (2200 GMT Friday) at Bermal district in Paktika province, which borders Pakistan's lawless North Waziristan tribal region.
“The coalition forces called for air weapons team and close-air support during the engagement. A coalition aircraft engaged an insurgent firing position with three precision-guided munitions,” it said. “The air weapons team also engaged a large number of insurgents near the outpost,” it said, adding: “Initial operational reporting indicates more than 30 insurgents were killed in the failed attack on the outpost.”The five wounded soldiers continued fighting, it said. None were killed.
The proximity of the combat post to the border hints at the possibility the insurgents had crossed from Pakistan, where the Taliban's leadership council is believed to be based.
The United States and NATO have more than 150,000 soldiers in Afghanistan fighting the insurgency, which is now in its 10th year since the Taliban's regime was overthrown in the US-led invasion in late 2001.
Remote border regions have proven particularly volatile in recent years. |
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