KABUL, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- About 69 militants have been killed in fresh military operations across Afghanistan within one day, said the country's Defense Ministry on Friday.
"The Afghan National Security and Defense Forces (ANDSF) carried out operations to clean areas from terrorists and enemies of peace and stability over the past 24 hours, killing 69 insurgents, including 11 militants of Islamic State (IS) group," the ministry said in a statement.
The joint Afghan security forces backed by army's artillery and air power also injured 43 insurgents and captured two others, the statement noted.
In one operation, 11 Taliban militants were killed, 13 wounded and four militants' bunkers were destroyed in Dasht-i-Archi district of northern Kunduz province while 13 terrorists were killed and 21 wounded in neighboring Badakhshan province, according to the statement.
In eastern Wardak province, six Taliban militants died after a mortar round they tried to fire on a district exploded accidently, the statement said.
The security force killed 11 Taliban militants in Nirkh district of Wardak and confiscated 11 suicide bomb vests besides seizing 180 kg explosive materials.
Some four Afghan army soldiers also died in separate incidents over the same period of time, the statement added.
The Taliban-led violence continues in Afghanistan. Security forces have pressed on to clear the militants in restive provinces but the militants responded by armed attacks and bombings.
The Taliban and the IS militant group have yet to make comments.
