KABUL, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Conflicts elsewhere in north Afghanistan have left 10 suspected Taliban insurgents dead and injured seven others, officials said Wednesday.

    "Seven Taliban militants were killed as security forces launched an operation in Hazrat-e-Sultan area of Kunduz province Tuesday night," senior army commander in the northern region General Murad Ali Murad told Xinhua.

    Seven more militants and two soldiers sustained injuries during the operation, he further said.

    Taliban purported spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in talks with media via telephone from undisclosed location claimed that five soldiers were killed in the gun battle.

    Meantime, similar conflict in the neighbouring Baghlan province on the same day Tuesday left three Taliban militants dead, a police officer Ahmad Jan told Xinhua.

    Taliban militants have intensified their activities against government interests particularly security forces to destabilize peace in the country.