KABUL, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- Police during an operation in Baghlan province, north of Afghanistan detained 11 insurgents, provincial police chief Mohammad Kabir Andarabi said Thursday.

    "The operation was launched Wednesday in some villages of Baghlan-e-Markazi district during which 11 mercenaries including two group commanders Mullah Zaman and Mullah Nasir were made captive," Andarabi told Xinhua.

    He further added that the villages of Kokchinar and Mangala hadbeen cleaned up of militants.

    Militants have fled the area, the official stressed.

    However, Andarabi did not say if there were any casualties on the troops.

    Taliban militants, who have intensified their assaults since the beginning of this year, have yet to make comment.