Afghan forces kill 72 Taliban fighters in 24 hours

Afghan police backed by the national army and NATO-led troops have eliminated 72 Taliban insurgents during series of operations across the country over the past 24 hours, Interior Ministry said in a statement released here Saturday.

"In the past 24 hours, Afghan National Police conducted several joint clearance operations with the cooperation of Afghan National Army and the Coalition Forces in Badakhshan, Balkh, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Paktika, Paktiya, Herat and Ghor provinces during which 72 armed Taliban rebels have been killed, two wounded and eight others arrested," the statement contended.

However, it did not say if there were any casualties on security forces.

Taliban militants who launched their spring offensive in April 28, have yet to make comment.