At least 18 Taliban insurgents were killed and seven injured in Afghan army operations, the defence ministry said Thursday.
The killings took place in the northern province of Badakhshan and the eastern provinces of Logar and Wardak, the ministry said. Seven militants were also wounded, reports Xinhua.
The army also arrested nine militants besides seizing weapons, ammunition and nine motorcycles.
Security forces have stepped up efforts to clear the militants across Afghanistan as spring and summer, known as the fighting season in the insurgency-hit country, is drawing near.