In kandahar, 33 Taliban fighters were killed and wounded

Clashes between security forces and the Taliban in Arghandab and Jirai districts of Kandahar province killed 25 Taliban fighters and wounded eight others, said Yahya Olavi, spokesman for the 205th Air Force Base in the southern zone, yesterday (18^th January).

Mr. Olavi also reported that 21 mines were defused as a result of an operation in the province.

The Taliban have not yet commented