KABUL, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Afghan troops during operations in Khost province, east of Afghanistan, arrested over a dozen people on charge of having link with Taliban insurgents, a press release of the Defense Ministry said here Tuesday.

    "In the operation involved Afghan army, Afghan police and the U.S.-led Coalition forces and launched in part of Sabari district on Monday, 13 suspected militants were detained," the press release added.

    It also added that troops during operation discovered a weapon cache containing six pieces of Kalashnikovs, anti-aircraft gun and thousands of bullets.

    Conflicts and violence have claimed the lives of over 5,000 in 2008 while Taliban insurgents whose regime toppled in late 2001 have vowed to intensify their activities against Afghan and international troops in the war-torn country in 2009.