File photo shows Taliban militants in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
Afghan security forces backed by US-led foreign troops have killed at least 21 Taliban militants and detained 10 others during cleanup operations across the war-ravaged country, Interior Ministry says.\n<\/p>\n
The Afghan Interior Ministry said in a statement issued on Tuesday that the militants were killed in large-scale security operations in troubled Kunar, Kunduz, Badakhshan, Jawzjan, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Wardak and Helmand provinces over the past 24 hours.\n<\/p>\n
Several militants were also injured during the raids on militants™ hideouts across the troubled regions, the statement added.\n<\/p>\n
It, however, did not mention whether there were any casualties on the side of Afghan or foreign forces.\n<\/p>\n
Security forces also seized a large cache of heavy weapons and ammunitions from the arrested militants.\n<\/p>\n
The Taliban militant group has not yet commented on these developments.\n<\/p>\n
Local Afghan security forces are increasingly taking the lead in security operations ahead of the expected withdrawal of US forces next year.\n<\/p>\n
In late April, the Taliban announced the start of their annual “spring offensive” against US-led and Afghan forces, vowing a new wave of attacks across Afghanistan.\n<\/p>\n
The announcement prompted Afghan authorities to beef up security in major cities across the country, including the capital city of Kabul.\n<\/p>\n
Moreover, US-led foreign forces have killed thousands of people, including many civilians, in airstrikes and night raids since they invaded the country in 2001.\n<\/p>\n
Washington claims it targets Taliban militants, but civilians are often the victims of such attacks.\n<\/p>\n
The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan as part of Washington™s so-called war on terror in 2001. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but the country is still gripped by insecurity.\n<\/p>\n
JR\/PR
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