Kabul - More than 100 Taliban insurgents were killed in two separate operations using NATO air power in the southern province of Helmand, a government spokesman said Sunday. At least 62 Taliban militants including foreign fighters were killed when rebels attacked police posts close to the provincial capital Lashkargah early Sunday, governor's spokesman Daoud Ahmadi told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.
The ground forces responded and NATO aircraft also bombed the militant positions, Ahamdi said, adding that a Taliban commander, Mullah Qadratullah of neighbouring Kandahar province, was among the dead militants.
"There are also reports that several foreign fighters were among the 62 dead militants, but so far we don't have their exact number," he said, citing his information based on intelligence reports.
Another 40 militants were killed in a three-day-operation in Nad Ali, another district of the same Helmand province, Ahmadi said, adding that no Afghan or NATO soldiers were killed in the operations.
NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) also confirmed that militants planned to conduct a "major" attack against Afghan military posts in Lashkargah city.
"Insurgents were seen gathering on the outskirts of the town, prior to launching a mortar attack," a military statement said. "During this counterattack, ISAF forces successfully conducted an air strike in which multiple enemy forces were killed."
"If the insurgents planned a spectacular attack prior to the winter, this was a spectacular failure," ISAF spokesman Brigadier General Richard Blanchette said.
Due to remoteness of the area, it was difficult to verify the claimed death toll independently.
Helmand along with other neighbouring provinces of Kandahar, Zabul and Uruzganare the main hotbed for Taliban militants. Around 8,000 NATO-led British troops are stationed in Helmand region.
Helmand province has witnessed fierce battles between the insurgents and Afghan and British forces since the beginning of spring this year. Provincial governor Gulab Mangal recently said hundreds of foreign fighters were also supporting the insurgency in the province.
More than 4,000 people - mostly insurgents - have been killed in Afghanistan conflicts so far this year, according figures provided by Afghan and international military sources.
