US jets pound Taliban position

US warplanes launched airstrikes on a Taliban position close to the Pakistani border at the weekend after a guerrilla attack on a government...

US warplanes launched airstrikes on a Taliban position close to the Pakistani border at the weekend after a guerrilla attack on a government checkpoint, an official said today.

Khalid Khan Achakzai, a senior local official with the Foreign Ministry, said the strikes came late last night about six km east of the border town of Spin Boldak.

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‘‘Along Afghanistan’s rugged eastern border, Pakistani soldiers have made dramatic advances towards Afghan territory in recent weeks,’’ The Washington Post said, quoting Afghan and Pakistani officials. (PTI)

Achakzai said the fighting started when 60 Taliban guerrillas attacked the Shero Obah post. ‘‘Afghan forces retaliated and the fight continued at least five hours,’’ Achakzai said, adding that US forces sent armoured vehicles in support.

Speaking by telephone, Taliban official Mullah Abdul Rauf claimed at least 20 government soldiers had been killed in the fighting, which involved 200 guerrillas.

Achakzai said the clash involved Taliban fighters led by former minister Mullah Abdul Razzaq, commander Hafiz Abdur Rahim and Rauf, a former governor. He said the guerrillas came from the Pakistani side of the border.

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