Afghanistan, Kabul, 10 September / Trend corr. A.Hakimi / Clashes between government troops and Taliban insurgents in Paktia province left over three dozens dead and injured while militants in the same province set on fire 29 trucks and kill two truckers, officials said .
"A group of Taliban militants stormed Ozy district late Monday night but the government troops with the support of gunship helicopters targeted their positions killing and injuring 40 enemies," district Governor Ozy Abdul Wali Zadran told media.
However, he could not give the exact figure of the insurgents' casualties, saying 12 bodies left on the battle ground while the rebels had taken the remaining dead and injured fellows with themselves.
There were no casualties on government troops, he contended.
In an identical incident also in Paktia province, Taliban fighters attacked a convoy of trucks supplying logistic support to foreign troops, burning 29 trucks.
"Armed Taliban insurgents ambushed logistic convoy of trucks in Zarmat district setting on fire 29 trucks and killed two drivers Monday evening," Rohullah Samon, the spokesman of provincial administration, told media Earlier, Afghan troops on Tuesday morning backed by NATO air strike eliminated 16 Taliban militants and wounded nine more in Uruzgan province of southern Afghanistan.
Taliban insurgents who staged a violent comeback three years ago have intensified their activities targeting Afghan and international troops across Afghanistan to mount pressure on the government despite around 70,000 foreign troops stationed in the war-torn country.
Conflicts and spiraling insurgency have claimed the lives of over 3,700 people with more than 800 civilians, so far this year.
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