LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Thirteen militants were killed and five others wounded in southern Afghan province of Helmand, local police said Monday.
"Afghan army, police and intelligence agency personnel launched a cordon operation against Taliban in Garmsir district on Sunday. As a result 13 insurgent were killed and five others wounded," provincial police spokesman, Abdul Sallam Afghan, told Xinhua.
The joint forces also defused 20 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and landmines in the district. Two telecommunication radios were also found, said the police official.
Helmand, notorious for poppy growing, is also a Taliban stronghold.
The Afghan forces have beefed up security operations against militants as the war-weary country is facing upsurges in attacks by Taliban insurgents and Islamic State (IS) militants across the country.
Scores of security forces and civilians were killed and wounded in a series of attacks by Taliban and IS fighters in the past two weeks.
