3 Afghan soldiers killed in bomb attacks

Three Afghan soldiers were killed in blasts since early Friday, the Defense Ministry said Saturday. "Three soldiers were martyred following separate improvised explosive device (IED) attacks across the country within the last 24 hours," the ministry said in a statement. The Taliban home-made IEDs remained a major threat to Afghan army and police. Army specialists had also found and defused 32 IEDs and landmines, the statement noted. The army and police have stepped up efforts to clear militants across Afghanistan as the country is preparing for the presidential and provincial councils general election slated for April 5. The statement said that two Taliban insurgents were killed following an army operation in Maiwand district of southern Kandahar province and the birthplace of the Taliban. Two motorcycles were seized in the raid in the province which also is notorious for growing poppy.