19 killed in military operations in Afghanistan within day

About 16 Taliban insurgents and three Afghan soldiers have been killed in fresh military operations in the countryside, said the country's Defense Ministry on Friday.

Some 14 militants were also wounded and four others detained during the raids conducted by Afghan army, police and intelligence agency personnel within the last 24 hours, the ministry said in a statement.

"Four insurgents' commanders were among the killed during operations conducted in Kunar, Logar, Uruzgan, Kunduz and Kandahar provinces of the country's 34 provinces," the statement added.

The security forces also recovered and defused several roadside bombs and landmines, according to the statement.

In a separate development, security forces found five trucks carrying humanitarian items earlier seized by Taliban militants in the country's eastern province of Paktia on Thursday.

"The convoy, belonging to an international aid organization, was carrying food supplies to Pakistani refugees in Zurmat district, Paktia province. The motorcade was travelling from Kabul before being intercepted by militants in surrounding areas of Zurmat a couple of days ago," district governor Akhlas Khan told Xinhua on Friday.

"The truck drivers were also freed from Taliban custody. Most of the goods were untouched. On early Friday morning,the security forces escorted the convoy to continue its travel to the final destination in the province bordering Pakistan," the official added.

Source: XINHUA