Qalat (Afghanistan), Aug 29: Afghan soldiers were waging a fierce ground battle with entrenched Taliban fighters in southern Afghanistan after a night of heavy us bombing that left many Taliban fighters dead, an Afghan intelligence chief said today.
US warplane began bombing two suspected Taliban positions in the Chinaran and Larzab mountains of Dai Chupan district in southern Zabul province, late last night, provincial intelligence chief Khalil Hotak told reporters.

The bombing ended at about 4 am, and some 500 local Afghan soldiers moved in on the Taliban fighters - who had taken up fortified positions in a deep mountain gorge and along a stream that runs through the area, Hotak said in a command center set up in Qalat, about 70 kilometres south of the fighting.
It was impossible to know the exact number of Taliban killed in the bombing and subsequent fighting, but Hotak said the number of fighters killed could be as high as 35. The US military could not immediately be reached for comment.
"The fighting was intense and we have inflicted heavy damage on the Taliban," Hotak said. "Our forces counted 35 Taliban bodies."



As he spoke, Hotak received calls from commanders at the scene, barking back orders for the ongoing fighting.



The fighting was still going, Hotak said. He said his forces believe hundreds of Taliban have taken up positions in the area, with at least 15 hideouts. Hotak said he had no word yet on fresh casualties among the Afghan soldiers. Four Afghan soldiers were wounded in fighting yesterday.


Bureau Report