72 militants killed in Afghanistan within 2 days

A total of 72 militants have been killed during Afghan army operations and airstrikes within the past two days, said the country's Defense Ministry on Saturday morning.

"Over the past 48 hours, up to 72 terrorists were killed, 29 wounded and one other was detained after Afghan National Army conducted cleanup operations and airstrikes in separate provinces, " the ministry said in a statement providing daily operational updates.

The army personnel seized weapons and defused dozen of landmines and roadside bombs during the above operations, the statement added.

Some 12 army personnel were also killed as a result of insurgents' firing and roadside bomb attacks across the country over the same period, according to the statement.

The Taliban-led violence continues in Afghanistan. Afghan security forces have pressed on clearing the militants in restive provinces as they assumed the full security charges from NATO-led troops since Jan. 1.

The Taliban responds by bombing and armed attacks.

On Friday, a policewoman was shot dead by gunmen in eastern Parwan province, provincial officials confirmed earlier in the day.

Source: XINHUA