MAZAR-I-SHARIF - Military operations against Taliban militants would be extended to insecure districts of northern Balkh province soon, an official said on Monday.
Balkh provincial government spokesperson Munir Farhad told reporters here that the operations would eradicate security threats that had worried people.
For this purpose, he said, high ranking Afghan and NATO security officials held a meeting in Mazar-i-Sharif, the provincial capital, three days back.
As a result of the operations, threats on the Mazar-Shiberghan and Mazar-Samangan highways would be eradicated and the Taliban purged from surrounding areas.
He said National Directorate of Security (NDS) forces had arrested four key Taliban members during the past one week in Mazar-i-Sharif.
He showed footages to reporters, in which the detained Taliban members were seen confessing to their crimes.
The detainees included a landmine expert who recently planted a landmine in the 10th police district, in which one civilian was killed and three others injured.
He said the arrest of the landmine planter prevented three more deadly incidents in Mazar-i-Sharif.
Meanwhile, 68 Taliban militants have been killed and 35 others injured in ongoing operations in different areas of Balkh province.
These operations are underway in Kushandi, Zare, Sholgar, Chamtal, Balkh and Charboluk districts.
The Taliban have not spoken yet about recent Balkh incidents. (Pajhwok)