KABUL, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- About 82 militants had been killed and 64 others injured as Afghan security forces launched wide-scale operations within last 24 hours in 17 of the country's 34 provinces, the country's Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.
In one operation, 36 Taliban militants were killed and 24 others wounded after troops struck militants positions in Chamkani and Jani Khel districts of eastern Paktia province, the ministry said in a statement providing daily operational updates.
"A total of 32 terrorists were killed and 20 others wounded during a cleanup operation in Dahana-i-Ghori district of northern Baghlan province," the statement added.
Sporadic clashes have been continuing around Dahana-i-Ghori district since weekend after Taliban capture the district's center and took control of all government office buildings there.
The joint forces supported by the army's artillery and warplanes also detained 12 militants during the above raids, the statement noted.
The statement confirmed loss of seven army personnel over the same period.
Some 14 other militants had been killed and 20 wounded in southern and northern provinces.
In addition, 12 Taliban were killed and two militants' heavy machine guns were destroyed after Afghan army warplanes struck Taliban positions in Want Waygal district, eastern Nuristan province on Monday, a provincial source told Xinhua earlier on Tuesday.
The Afghan security forces have beefed up security operations and NATO-led forces increased drone attacks against militants since April after Taliban started their so-called annual offensive and stepped up attacks across the country.
The Taliban has yet to make comments.
