KABUL, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Conflicts between militants and security forces have killed 33 persons including 30 Taliban insurgents and three Afghan soldiers over the past two days, local officials said Wednesday.

    Afghan forces backed by NAT air-power eliminated 30 Taliban militants including their commander Mullah Shir Agha in Kajaki district of the southern Helmand province on Tuesday night, provincial police chief Mohammad Nabi Mullahkhil told Xinhua. He did not give other details.

    In another development, which occurred in the eastern Paktika province, three Afghan soldiers were killed and a similar number was wounded.

    A group of armed Taliban militants raided a checkpoint in Shakin area of Bermal district close to Afghan-Pakistani border on Wednesday morning, leaving three soldiers dead and three others injured, provincial governor Mohammad Akram Khapalwak told Xinhua.

    Violence have claimed the lives of more than 300 people so far this year in Afghanistan and military officials expect more Taliban attacks when the weather gets warm.