jha
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NATO and Afghan troops killed more than 50 Haqqani Network fighters during an attack on an "encampment" in the eastern Afghan province of Paktika.
The encampment was located in the Sar Rowzah District in Paktika province, a known haven for the Haqqani Network and allied groups such as the Pakistani Taliban and al Qaeda.
The "training camp" was used as "a staging area for Haqqani and foreign fighters," the International Security Assistance Force stated in a press release. ISAF uses the term "foreign fighters" to describe members of al Qaeda and allied terror groups such as the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. "These fighters were moved into the country by Haqqani insurgents who planned to use them for attacks throughout Afghanistan," ISAF stated.
The combined ISAF and Afghan force attacked the camp last night after receiving reports of its location "from disenfranchised insurgents." The ISAF and Afghan troops were attacked "from several locations, including cave sites and fortified bunkered fighting positions" by Haqqani fighters armed with "rocket propelled grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and AK-47 assault rifles." The Afghan and ISAF force killed 30 Haqqani network fighters in the initial engagement, which lasted "throughout the night."
Security forces killed "more than 20 additional insurgents" while continuing to clear the training camp and the surrounding area this morning and afternoon. After the engagement, security forces found "numerous stockpiles of weapons including mortars, RPGs with warheads, PK machine guns with multiple crates of ammunition, AK-47 rifles with magazines, grenades, chest racks and military gear."
ISAF, Afghan troops strike Haqqani Network 'encampment' in east - The Long War Journal
