KABUL, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Six suspected Taliban militants were killed as they came in contact with government troops in southeast Afghanistan, an official said Monday.

    "Acting on a tape off, government troops raided enemies' hideout in Wazokhah district of Paktika province Sunday at 3:00 p.m. killing six rebels," governor of Paktika province Akram Khapalwak told Xinhua.

    In the fighting, which lasted for more than two hours, six assault rifles were also seized from militants' possession, he said, adding that there was no casualty on the government forces.

    Militancy has been on a rise over the past two months as more than 600 militants have been killed in the post-Taliban nation since early June, according to Afghan Defense Ministry.

    Taliban-linked insurgency has claimed more than 11,000 people's lives since the beginning of this year in Afghanistan. Enditem