ISLAMABAD, April 11: Eight militiamen were killed and several others wounded on Wednesday night when Afghan interim administration forces recaptured a key trade route to Iran.

The forces of Abdul Karim Barohi, governor of southwestern Nimroz province, launched the offensive against two rebel commanders near the Iranian border on Wednesday night, the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) said.

Rebel commanders Abdul Jalil and Abdul Rahman had earlier taken control of the road from Iran at Guldana and Deh Sheikh, and they were demanding a share of the government’s customs revenue.

“The fighting left eight people dead, seven from Jalil’s forces and one from the governor. Many were wounded from both sides,” a local tribal leader said.

A UNHCR programme to repatriate refugees from Iran was suspended barely 24 hours after it began this week due to hostilities between Afghan government forces and local warlords.—AFP