KABUL, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Two separate gun battles between Afghan troops and Taliban-linked fighters have left 23 militants dead, a local official said Monday.

    Ten enemies were killed as Afghan forces backed by coalition's air support pounded militants' position in Garmsir district of Helmand province Sunday at 01:00 p.m., police chief of the district Mohammad Rasoul told Xinhua.

    One Taliban group commander Mullah Piroz is among the dead bodies, he added.

    In a similar conflict between militants and Afghan forces in the same district at 6:00 p.m. 13 Taliban fighters were killed, the official added.

    Only one policeman was injuries in both the incidents, he stressed.

    Militancy is on rise as more than 600 Taliban-linked insurgents have been killed during the 50-day U.S.-led Operation Mountain Thrust which ended July 31.

    Taliban-linked insurgency has claimed the lives of more than 1,100 people including some 30 American soldiers since the beginning of this year in Afghanistan. Enditem