KABUL, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- About six Afghan soldiers and 19 militants have been killed across Afghanistan within the past 24 hours, the country's Defense Ministry said on Thursday afternoon.
"Over the past 24 hours, 19 militants were killed and 11 others injured during military operations in four out of 34 Afghan provinces. Six Afghan National Army soldiers also lost their lives in roadside bomb attacks and clashes over the same period," the ministry said in a statement.
The Afghan army specialists found and defused 25 roadside bombs and landmines over the past one day, according to the statement.
The Taliban-led violence continues in Afghanistan. Security forces have pressed on to clear the militants in restive provinces.
The war-torn country is due to take over the responsibility for its own security from NATO-led troops by the end of year.
More than 34,000 NATO-led coalition troops, down from the peak of 130,000 in 2010, are stationed in Afghanistan. Nearly 24,000 of them are Americans and the United States plans to trim its forces to less than 10,000 next year.
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