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Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry says government forces have killed 23 Taliban militants during operations in three different parts of the country.
In a statement early on January 21, the ministry said the militants were killed during the previous 24 hours in the southern province of Kandahar, the northern province of Kunduz, and in Kapisa Province just north of Kabul.
The Philippine military says troops backed by artillery and air support have killed three Muslim militants from the same group that killed six soldiers two months ago.
Military spokesman Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc says troops battled about 50 Abu Sayyaf gunmen in a series of clashes Tuesday in southern Basilan province. She says six militants also were wounded and there were no government casualties.
Villagers fleeing the violence in Putao area (Photo: KBC Kachin)
Battles intensify for control of Hpakant and Putao areas in Kachin State, Muse, Namtu, Theinni and Kutkai areas in northern Shan State between Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Burmese Army troops .
The latest round of fighting began as Burmese Army accused KIA of arresting the Kachin State Transportation Minister and three policemen on Jan 14. KIA sources say that the Transport Minister had already been released and they planned to release three policemen the next day. An official of the KIA’s 6th Battalion said, “We have a protocol that Burmese government informed KIA through Peace-talks Creation Group (PCG) about their plans prior to travelling. But Burmese officials didn’t inform KIA about the minister’s travel this time. So our frontline troops detained them. But we planned to release them. It is not a valid reason to launch an offensive.”
Troops from the Kachin Independence Organization’s (KIO) armed wing have clashed repeatedly with government forces in both Kachin and northern Shan states over last few days. The clashes come ahead of a renewed push by President Thein Sein to secure a National Ceasefire agreement by the February 12th Union Day holiday.
The clashes in Shan state started on January 12th and took place in areas controlled by Kachin Independence Army (KIA) Battalions 2, 36, and 38 according to Captain Zau La of KIA Brigade 4 (all three of the battalions are in the 4th Brigade).
Anti-insurgency measures by security forces have led to the arrest of 39 militants belonging to the banned organisation National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit faction) and 8 linkmen in Assam.
Security forces have come down especially hard on the separatist militants since the massacre in December, in which members of the NDFB(S) opened fire on innocent villagers in the Sonitpur, Kokrajhar and Chirang districts of Assam, leaving over 80 people killed.