KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan security forces have killed 18 Taliban fighters and forced them to retreat from 20 villages in the northern Kunduz province, an army spokesman said on Friday.
"The security forces after days of heavy fighting were able to liberate 20 more villages from Taliban clutches in Qala-e-Zal district after killing 18 militants and injuring more than 30 others on Thursday," spokesman Ghulam Hazrat Karimi told reporters.
During the operations, dozens of mines planted by militants on the roads have also been discovered and defused, he added.
Without providing information on possible casualties of security forces, the spokesman said the operations would continue until government control was restored in the area.
Taliban militants, who overrun Qala-e-Zal district about one month ago, are yet to make comment on the situation in the troubled district.
