Afghan security forces kill 79 militants within day: gov't

Afghan security forces have pressed on to clear the militants in restive provinces and killed 79 militants in the latest operations, the country's Defense Ministry said on Friday.

"Afghan army, police and personnel of intelligence agency carried out several joint cleanup operations within the past 24 hours, killing 79 armed Taliban militants, wounding 36 and detaining six others," the ministry said in a statement providing daily operational updates.

The security forces also seized weapons and defused several landmines recently planted by the militants during the raids launched in 19 of the country's 34 provinces, the statement said.

A total of nine army personnel were also killed in separate incidents across Afghanistan during the same period, the statement noted.

The Taliban has yet to make comments. Endit