At Least 24 Dead As Afghan Forces, Taliban Clash

At least 23 militants and one policeman were killed in the past 48 hours as clashes between security forces and Taliban militants escalated in a number of Afghan provinces, security officials said.



Nasrullah Nastu Naderi, army spokesperson in the Western province of Herat, said 13 Taliban militants were killed and six injured in clashes with Afghan forces. 



Said Masud Yakubi, Faryab police department spokesperson, said six militants were killed and 10 injured in the past two days. 



Badakhshan Governor's spokesman Ahmed Navid Furuten said the operation that began last week against Taliban militants in Corm district is ongoing. Furuten said four militants and one policeman were killed in the clashes.



Meanwhile, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mucahit claimed that 11 Afghan soldiers were killed in clashes with his group.



Afghanistan has witnessed a wave of deadly attacks since the newly-elected government took office three months ago.



The U.S. and NATO are preparing to withdraw forces from Afghanistan by the end of 2014 after 13 years of combat.



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