KABUL, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Afghan forces, in operation launched in southern Kandahar province on Monday, have so far arrested 70 suspected insurgents, Defense Ministry spokesman Zahir Azimi said Wednesday.

    "Since the launch of the operation on Monday we have detained 70 rebels including two Taliban commanders Hayatullah and MohammadDaud," Azimi told newsmen at a joint press conference with alliance forces here.

    The operation dubbed as Atal or Hero would last for the next five days to clean up the area from Taliban insurgents, he added.

    Azimi also added that over the past 50 days, 11 Afghan soldiers have been killed and 16 others sustained injuries, mostly in roadside bombings planted by insurgents.

    The spokesman further added that the troops have discovered and defused 112 mines planted by the rebels.

    Speaking on the occasion, the spokesman of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Richard Blanchette noted that the security situation has been improved this year in comparison with the past by saying "there has been progress this year and we have disrupted insurgents influence in many areas."

    Spiraling conflicts and Taliban-linked insurgency have claimed over 5,000 people with more than 1,500 civilians so far this year in strife-torn Afghanistan while Taliban insurgents have vowed to intensify assaults against interests of the Afghan government and international troops before the coming winter.