At least 60 militants have been killed in fighting between the Taliban and a rival Islamic group, Hezb-e-Islami, in Baghlan province, northern Afghanistan. The fighting in Baghlan province appears to be a rivalry over control of local villages and the taxes they generate.
According to the governor of Baghlan both sides are using heavy weapons. During the fighting forty Hezb fighters while twenty Talibans were killed. A number of civilians died in the crossfire and the actual number of causalities is unclear. Securtiy forces are trying to provide help to the civilians.
Hezb-e-Islami, loyal to former PM Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, is the second biggest militant group in Afghanistan.
The two groups have previously been allied in their opposition to Afghan’s central government and foreign forces.

The governor of Afghan province Helmand, Gulab Mengal has said that Afghan forces are facing stiff resistance from Pakistani Taliban.

Many resident of the Helmand province have fled the fighting and they are facing enormous challenges.

Britain Defence Secretary David Miliband has said that al-Qaeda leadership is present in the bordering areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
During an interview with a foreign news agency, Miliband said that the Christmas bomb plan was a planned attack on the West. The defence secretary said that despite the killings of many of its leaders, the hazards from al-Qaeda still loomed large. Earlier, al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden claimed in a video tape to plan bombing of US airliner on Dec 25.

Nato’s top commander in Afghanistan Gen McChrystal has sought dialogue with the Taliban to broker a peace deal.
McChrystal said that he would ask other allies as well to revisit their strategy regarding Taliban. He told the Financial Times: “As a soldier, my personal feeling is that there’s been enough fighting, and that what we need to do – all of us – is to do the fighting necessary to shape conditions where people can get on with their lives, and everybody can make a decision where fighting’s not the direction that it needs to go in. “I believe a political solution to all conflicts is the inevitable outcome. And it’s the right outcome.”
The general has secured an extra 30,000 US troops and several thousand more from Nato countries to provide more security in the country. Replying to a question regarding the likely role of al-Qaeda in the government, McChrystal said that anyone could play role if he looked towards future instead of past.

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