Roundup: 27 militants killed in S. Afghanistan

A total of 27 militants have been killed in Afghanistan's southern Helmand and Kandahar provinces during crackdowns against Taliban hideouts on Friday, the country' s Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Afghan security forces have killed 11 Taliban militants, including a senior commander named Mohammad Agha, in the restive southern Helmand province on Friday, according to the statement.

"Units of national police backed by the army launched operations in parts of Nad Ali district this morning, leaving 11 Taliban rebels including a key commander, Mohammad Agha, dead," the statement said.

Six more insurgents have been injured during the operations, the statement added.

In similar operations conducted in the neighboring Kandahar province on Friday, 16 militants have been killed, according to the statement.

"In joint operations involving police and army launched in Band- e-Timor area of Maiwand district, Kandahar province on Friday, 16 rebels have been killed," it said.

The security forces have also discovered and seized a quantity of arms and ammunition during the operations, the statement added.

Both Kandahar and the neighboring Helmand province have been regarded as Taliban hotbeds in conflict-ridden Afghanistan.

Taliban militants, who have intensified activities since the Afghan security forces assumed full security responsibility for the country on Jan. 1 this year, have yet to make comment. Endi