Seven Afghan police and an Indian engineer were killed after a Taliban suicide-bomber detonated near their convoy in Nimroz province; 11 policeman and an Indian road worker were wounded. The Afghan Defense Ministry said over 200 Taliban and 17 of their commanders were killed during the December operation to retake Helmand™s Musa Qala district. Kandahar Police arrested six Taliban fighters in the Panjwai district. M777A2 lightweight 155mm howitzers have been deployed to several US bases.
