Related: U.S. Defenses Secretary arrives in Afghanistan
KABUL, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Afghan and NATO forces killed 15 Taliban militants in separate operations in the west and southern provinces of Afghanistan, officials said on Tuesday.
Thirteen militants were killed in the southern Helmand province while two others lost their lives in the western Farah province on Monday, according to the officials.
"Afghan troops backed by NATO killed 13 militants and wounded 16 others in Garmsir district of Helmand province Monday," provincial police chief Mohammad Nabi Mullahkhil told Xinhua.
He added that one British soldier was killed in the gun battle. He was the second victim of the Britain forces in the lawless Helmand province.
A NATO statement said one of its soldiers was killed and several others were injured in gun battle with insurgents in south Afghanistan Monday.
Another clash occurred in Gulistan district of Farah province Monday that killed two militants, provincial governor Abdul Samad Stanikzai said.
"The clash took place in Gulistan district Monday as a result Taliban's commander Mullah Ghafar was injured and his two men were killed," Stanikzai told Xinhua.
There were no casualties of government and NATO forces, he added.
More than 200 people have been killed so far this year in Afghanistan.