Afghan forces kill 63 Taliban militants, wound 41 others

Afghan security forces have killed 63 Taliban militants and injured 41 others in Ghazni province since Friday night and the operation is still continuing, an army spokesman Nazifullah Sultani said Saturday. "As part of exerting pressure against Taliban militants, the security forces launched crackdown in parts of Gilan district on late Friday night and so far 63 rebels including 20 Pakistani Taliban have been killed and 41 others sustained injuries," Sultani told Xinhua. Afghan officials often accuse Pakistan of supporting Taliban militants, a claim rejected by Taliban as groundless. The security personnel have also seized a large number of arms and ammunitions during the operations, the official went on to say. There were no casualties on the security personnel, the official contended. Taliban militants who announced Thursday to launch their spring offensive on May 12, have yet to make comment