Afghan forces kill 104 Taliban militants

Afghan security forces have killed 104 Taliban fighters during series of operations across the conflict-ridden country over the past 24 hours, the Interior Ministry said on Saturday.

"The operations involving units of police, army and national directorate for security and conducted in parts of Faryab, Jowzjan, Kandahar, Zabul, Maidan Wardak, Ghazni, Badghis, Baghlan, Kunduz, Farah, Herat, Paktika and Helmand provinces, 104 armed Taliban members including several commanders were killed," the ministry said in a statement.

According to the statement, 89 more militants were wounded and another one was arrested by Afghan National Security Forces.

"Taliban suffered the heaviest casualty in Farah, Helmand, Badghis and Kunduz provinces," the statement further said.

The statement however didn't mention the possible casualties inflicted to the security personnel.

Taliban militants fighting the government to regain power kicked off their so-called annual spring offensive from Friday.

In a statement released Wednesday, the Taliban outfit vowed to launch their spring offensive dubbed "Azm" or "Resolution" from April 24 against government forces throughout the war-ravaged country.

Meanwhile, reports received from the northern Kunduz province said the Taliban attacks and counter attacks have claimed 28 lives, including 25 militants across the northern Kunduz province with Kunduz city as its capital 250 km north of Kabul since Friday.

"Taliban militants conducted series of attacks against government interests in Khanabad, Aliabad, Gortipa and Imab Sahib districts since Friday and security forces retaliated and so far 28 people including 25 rebels, two police and a civilian have been killed," Kunduz police spokesman Sayed Sarwar Hussaini told Xinhua on Saturday.

Purported Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the clashes in Kunduz province but denied losing 25 fighters there.

Four Taliban fighters have been killed and three others injured in Burka district of Baghlan province since Friday, Baghlan police spokesman Jawed Basharat said.

Fightings have also been reported in Badakhshan, Herat and Ghazni provinces since Friday.

Afghan Interior Minister Noorul Haq Ulumi and deputy to Defense Ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri have downplayed the Taliban spring offensive, saying the security forces were capable of foiling enemies' attacks.