Roundup: Afghan forces kill 24 militants

Afghan security forces have killed two dozen armed insurgents during series of operations across the conflict-ridden country over the past 24 hours, the Ministry of Interior said in a statement released here on Saturday.

"A total of 24 armed insurgents have been killed during police operations backed by the army and National Directorate for Security over the past 24 hours," the statement said.

During the operations which have been conducted in Kunar, Oruzgan and Helmand provinces, five more insurgents sustained injuries and another arrested.

Taliban militants rebuffed the Interior Ministry's report, insisting that the armed outfit has inflicted huge casualties to the government forces over the period.

The Taliban outfit in an online statement said the armed insurgents besides destroying an armored vehicle in Miwand district of the southern Kandahar province on Saturday morning also inflicted casualties to security personnel.

Taliban militants also claimed overrunning a police checkpoint in Sistani area of Marja district in Kandahar's neighboring Helmand province late Friday night and killing five police personnel, a claim spurned by officials as mere propaganda.

According to Taliban statements, more than two dozen Afghan security personnel have been killed since Friday across the war- ravaged country during several operations mostly in the shape of suicide and roadside bombings.

Since warring sides exaggerate the casualties of opponents in Afghanistan, it is difficult to verify with independent sources in the militancy-plagued country.

Militancy and conflicts usually get momentum in spring and summer in Afghanistan commonly known as fighting season among Afghans.

Taliban outfit has rejected the appeal of Afghan government for truce in Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month started on Thursday, and instead vowed to intensify activities during the Ramadan. Endi