Asia News: Tuesday, January 1, 2008 - 16 or More Taliban Killed in Afghanistan

We often hear of death of our American troops. While tragic, and certainly newsworthy, death of the U.S. troops is only part of the story.

Today, January 1, 2008, 16 or more Taliban rebels were killed in Afghanistan in U.S. led operations.

Afghanistan is a country plagued with insurgency led by the Taliban. Insurgency is an organized rebellion intended to overthrow the government. It is subversive and includes armed combat. Much of the instability in Afghanistan is a result of Taliban insurgents. That instability currently makes it necessary for an ongoing battle, in order to at least attempt to bring some stability to the nation of Afghanistan.

Here is an accounting of the Taliban members killed in Afghanistan today:

1. A single man, armed with a jacket filled with explosives was taken down near a police checkpoint in Khost, a town in Eastern Afghanistan. The suicide bomber wannabee intended to target police with the explosives, but was shot and killed before he had an opportunity to do so.

2. In Helmand, a Southern district in Afghanistan known for its opium production, several Islamic guerillas were killed. The deaths were a result of a gun battle when U.S. troops searched a compound looking for fighters connected with the Taliban. An exact number of Taliban insurgents killed in this particular incident was not provided. Additionally, a stash of explosives, rockets and rifles were found and destroyed. At this time it is believed that no civilians were injured or killed in this attack.

3. In Badghis, a western province that borders Iran, 10 Taliban insurgents were killed after they attacked an Afghan police border checkpoint.

4. In Zabul, a province in Southern Afghanistan that is rife with Taliban insurgents, two Taliban members were killed when a bomb they were trying to plant went off earlier than planned. The bomb was intended to kill security forces.

5. According to the defense ministry, three other Taliban rebels were killed in separate incidents involving the Afghan army, and two others were captured.

In 2007, instability in Afghanistan claimed 6000 lives, most of which were rebels.