Story highlights
NEW: No civilians were harmed, ISAF says
Insurgents attacked an Afghan base, spokesman for Paktika province governor says
They were killed in the ensuing fighting; no NATO or Afghan forces injured, official says
Between 60 and 70 insurgents were killed after attacking an Afghan base and meeting with resistance, according to a spokesman for the governor of southeastern Paktika province.
The insurgents were carrying light and heavy weapons Tuesday night when they attacked the base in the Barmal district of Paktika province, which shares a border with Pakistan’s South Waziristan, spokesman Mokhlis Afghan said.
They met with resistance from Afghan National Security Forces and NATO air support, the spokesman said.
All of the insurgents were killed in the ensuing gunbattle, he said. Their bodies were left on the ground alongside their weapons.
An investigation was under way to determine the attackers’ identities, Afghan said.
No Afghan or NATO forces were injured in the incident, he said.
NATO’s International Security Assistance Force said in a statement that the group attacked an ISAF facility using small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire.
“Significant casualties were inflicted on the insurgent force” in the fighting, the ISAF said, and two buildings being used by the insurgents were destroyed.
No civilians were harmed, the ISAF said, and officials were gathering information to assess the operation.