Twelve militants killed in Afghan army, police operations in one day

Twelve militants were killed and 16 others arrested as Afghan army and police launched several cleanup operations within a 24-hour period, the country's Interior Ministry said Monday morning.

"The Afghan National Police (ANP) conducted several clearance operations with the cooperation of Afghan National Army, NDS ( National Directorate of Security) or intelligence service to clean some of the areas from terrorists and enemies of peace and stability in Baghlan, Kapisa, Kunduz, Jowzjan, Uruzgan, Wardak, Logar, Farah and Helmand provinces. Up to 12 armed Taliban were killed, two wounded and 16 others were arrested over the last 24 hours during the above raids," the ministry said in a statement.

According to Xinhua, it said the ANP also discovered and confiscated some amount of light and heavy rounds of weapons and ammunition besides confiscating 1,500 kg of poppy opium.

The statement did not disclose if there were any casualties on the side of security forces.

The Taliban militants, who have been waging an insurgency since its regime was toppled by a U.S-led invasion in late 2001, have yet to make comments.