22 Taliban militants killed in Afghanistan

At least 22 Taliban militants were killed over the past 24 hours in a fighting with the security personnel in Baghlan province of Afghanistan.

The battle occurred in Dand-e-Ghori district of the province on Sunday, Xinhua quoted army spokesman Ahmad Jawed Salim said. 

"Up to 22 Taliban rebels have been killed and seven injured over the past 24 hours," Salim said.

The Taliban outfit has not yet commented.

Dand-e-Ghori and Dand-e-Shahabudin districts have been regarded as Taliban hotbeds in Baghlan and adjoining Kunduz and Samangan provinces from where the militants organise operations.

The Afghan government launched a major offensive in mid-January to evict militants and restore government control in both Dand-e-Ghori and Dand-e-Shahabudin districts.