120 militants, 4 soldiers killed in fresh operations in Afghanistan

At least 120 militants were killed after Afghan army, police and intelligence agency personnel launched wide-scale operations against militants' hideouts within the past 24 hours, said a statement of the Defense Ministry Thursday.

Up to 48 Islamic State (IS) militants were killed after the joint forces struck militants positions in Achin district of eastern Nangarhar province, according the statement providing daily operational updates.

In one operation, 22 Taliban militants had been killed after the joint troops raided their bunkers in Sangin district of the restive southern Helmand province.

"A Taliban shadow district governor for Sangin named Mawlawi Aqah was among the killed," the statement said.

The joint forces supported by army's artillery and warplanes also found weapons and defused dozens of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and landmines during the raids.

Some 49 militants were killed in the country's eastern province of Paktia, the statement said, adding six Taliban were also wounded during the clashes there.

The statement also confirmed loss of four army personnel over the same period.

In northern Kunduz province, one Taliban fighter was killed and 10 others were wounded during clashes in Qalay-i-Zal district, it noted.

Sporadic clashes have been continuing in the Qalay-i-Zal, bordering Tajikistan since weekend after Taliban tried to capture the control of the district.

The Taliban-led attacks and violence have declined over the recent weeks as Afghan security forces have beefed up security operations and NATO-led forces increased drone strikes against the militants across the country.

The Taliban and IS militants have yet to make comments. Endit