KHOST, Afghanistan, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Airstrikes against Taliban militants left four insurgents dead and two others injured in east Afghanistan's Paktika province on Saturday, said a provincial administration spokesman.

    "A group of militants were busy planting roadside bombs in Urgon district this morning to target Afghan and foreign forces when war planes of international troops pounded the site, killing four rebels on the spot," Mukhlis Afghan, the spokesman, told Xinhua.

    Two more militants, who were injured, were also detained by the Afghan forces, he said.

    Troops also seized a few assault rifles and explosive devices in the area, he added.

    Taliban outfits have yet to make comments.

    Eastern and southern parts of the militancy-hit country have been the scene of Taliban-led insurgency over the past couple of years.

    Parts of the 37,000 additional U.S. and NATO troops announced by U.S. President Barak Obama and allied countries are expected to be deployed in eastern and southern regions to combat Taliban-led militancy there.