Free Republic

Warlord's son, fighters killed by US forces Islamabad _ Rebel Afghan warlord Pacha Khan Zadran lost a son and nine fighters in a clash with United States forces in eastern Afghanistan, a news report said yesterday. American forces used heavy artillery and helicopter gunships in the four-hour fight on Sunday in Sata Kandow area south of Gardez city on the highway to Khost, the Afghan Islamic Press agency reported. Spokesman Ghami Khan said 10 Zadran fighters, including his son Jilani Khan, were killed and 10 others were wounded. Mr Zadran revolted against the US-backed Afghan President Hamid Karzai last year....

In a four-hour clash between US forces and Pacha Khan Zadran in [southeastern Afghan] Paktia [Province], as many as ten people, including Pacha Khan's son, were killed. Ghamay Khan Mohammad Yar [phonetic], a spokesman for Pacha Khan Zadran, told AIP this morning from Utmani [phonetic] village in the Zadran area of Paktia that US and Afghan forces yesterday, Sunday [23 March 2003], launched massive operations from Gardez [the centre of Paktia Province] on their positions in Sato Kandaw. After they [Zadran forces] put up stiff resistance for four hours, these forces [US and Afghan forces] were defeated and retreated toward...