12 militants killed in Afghan northern province

Up to 12 Taliban militants have been killed and seven others injured as security forces launched operations in parts of Dasht-e-Archi district in the northern Kunduz province Friday night, a local official said Saturday.

"The security forces launched operations against Taliban rebels in Dasht-e-Arch district last night and so 12 armed insurgents have been killed and seven others injured," district governor Nasrudin Nazari told Xinhua.

Several villages have been liberated from Taliban clutch and their bastion in Qarlaq area has been dismantled, the official asserted.

Without commenting on the possible casualties of security forces, the official noted that the operations would last until the militants are wiped out from the area.

Taliban outfit has yet to make comments on the situation there. Endit