70 militants, 9 soldiers killed in Afghanistan within day

Some 70 militants were killed after Afghan army, police and intelligence agency personnel launched wide-scale operations against militants' hideouts within the past 24 hours, said the country's Defense Ministry on Sunday.

Up to 15 armed Taliban insurgents were also wounded and 20 persons were detained by the joint forces during the raids launched in 15 of the country's 34 provinces, the ministry said in a statement providing operational updates.

The joint forces backed by army's artillery and warplanes also found weapons and defused dozens of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and landmines, according to the statement.

It also confirmed loss of nine army personnel over the same period.

The Afghan security forces have stepped up security operations against militants recently as the militants have been attempting to take territory and consolidate their positions ahead of winter in the mountainous country.

The Taliban militants have yet to make comments. Enditem