KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan army troops kicked off a military operation to trace militants in northern Kunduz province, a local official said Thursday.
"The Afghan National Army personnel launched a cleanup and search operation in Kunduz province Thursday. The operation codenamed Pamir 110 will aim at clearing militants in areas where militants have presence across Kunduz," provincial government spokesman Esmatullah Muradi told reporters.
The Afghan security forces have recently beefed up security operations against the Taliban militants who have been attempting to take territory and consolidate their positions in the countryside ahead of winter.
The province has been the scene of heavy clashes between Taliban and security forces for years. In late August this year, the militants launched a coordinated attack and captured parts of provincial capital Kunduz city. The clashes left more than 30 civilians and security forces dead and injured nearly 100 others.
"The operation was launched with close coordination with national police and national intelligence agency. The raid will continue until the area is cleared of militants," Muradi noted.
The operation was planned and launched by Afghan army's 217 Pamir Corps and the security forces, and local government will also focus on the reconstruction of roads and public infrastructure, he added.
