KABUL, March 14 (NNN-KUNA) — A soldier of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and 17 more people, including six civilians and 11 suspected militants, were killed in fresh incidents of violence in different parts of Afghanistan.

A statement from ISAF headquarters here on Saturday said one of their soldiers was killed in a roadside landmine blast in southern Afghanistan today. Name and nationality of the soldier and exact location of the incident were not disclosed.

Separately, six Afghan civilians were killed in another landmine blast in the country’s southern province of Uruzgan.

A statement from the Interior Ministry in Kabul said the incident happened in Nishin village of Uruzgan province around 7:30am (local time).

The statement said another civilian sustained injuries in the blast.

In the neighbouring province of Zabul, the Afghan officials said 11 suspected Taliban were killed in air strike by the NATO-led ISAF.

Muhammad Jan, spokesman for the provincial government, said the Taliban positions were bombed in Shamozai district of Zabul. He said no civilians were killed or injured in the air raid.

In yet another incident, the international troops claimed arresting three Taliban leaders, including a local commander during a raid in Uruzgan province.
The NATO statement said Taliban commander Mullah Janan Andiwal was arrested along with two other colleagues during a raid on March 5.

It said the detainee was wanted to the foreign troops and Afghan government in coordinated mortan and rocket attacks against locals, the Afghan and coalition forces. — NNN-KUNA

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