Afghan army soldiers take part in a military operation against Taliban militants in Mehterlam, Laghman province, Afghanistan, on May 24, 2021. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)
KABUL, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Afghan army soldiers took part in a military operation against Taliban militants in Mehterlam, Laghman province on Monday.
Taliban militants have intensified activities in eastern Laghman and northern Baghlan provinces over the past weeks. They are attempting to tighten noose around important highways linking Kabul to the northern and eastern provinces.
Chief of Army Staff General Mohammad Yasin Zia visited Laghman's provincial capital Mehterlam on Monday, saying the militants' attempts to gain ground had been foiled and the security situation there has been improved.
More than 50 militants were killed and some 60 others injured during cleanup operations in Laghman, the provincial government said in a statement on Monday.
Cleanup operation has also been continuing in northern Baghlan as some three dozen militants were killed and injured since Sunday in the restive province, an army statement confirmed.
Taliban militants have intensified activities since the start of the U.S.-led forces withdrawal from Afghanistan on May 1.
Afghan army soldiers take part in a military operation against Taliban militants in Mehterlam, Laghman province, Afghanistan, on May 24, 2021. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)
Afghan army soldiers take part in a military operation against Taliban militants in Mehterlam, Laghman province, Afghanistan, on May 24, 2021. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)
Afghan army soldiers take part in a military operation against Taliban militants in Mehterlam, Laghman province, Afghanistan, on May 24, 2021. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)
Afghan army soldiers take part in a military operation against Taliban militants in Mehterlam, Laghman province, Afghanistan, on May 24, 2021. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)
Afghan army soldiers take part in a military operation against Taliban militants in Mehterlam, Laghman province, Afghanistan, on May 24, 2021. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)
Afghan army soldiers take part in a military operation against Taliban militants in Mehterlam, Laghman province, Afghanistan, on May 24, 2021. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)■
