86 militants killed in Afghanistan within day

About 86 Taliban militants have been killed during military operations and clashes with the security forces within the past 24 hours, said the authorities on Tuesday morning.

"Some 56 terrorists were killed and 46 others wounded during joint military and cleanup operations across the country over the past 24 hours," the country's Defense Ministry said in a statement providing daily operational updates.

A total of seven army soldiers were killed in landmine blasts and enemy' firings within the same period, the statement confirmed.

"Several militants' bunkers were destroyed and 27 roadside bombs and landmines were defused by the army specialists," the statement noted.

Furthermore, up to 30 militants have been killed and 50 others wounded during clashes between security forces and militants in Aqcha district of northern Jawzjan province, General Faqir Mohammad Jawzjani, provincial police chief, told Xinhua earlier on Tuesday.

The clashes broke out early Monday after nearly 1,000 militants attacked the district from surrounding areas in efforts to capture the district, he said. "The army helicopter gunships carried out several air raids. Sporadic clashes still going on there and reinforcement forces were dispatched to the district, in eastern of provincial capital Shibirghan city," the police chief added.

The Taliban militant group has yet to make comments.

The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since April 24 when the militant group launched its so-called annual spring offensive in different places of the militancy-plagued Afghanistan which had claimed hundreds of lives including militants, security personnel and civilians.

The security forces have also intensified operations as spring and summer known as the fighting season is drawing near. Endi