Afghan troops kill 4 militants in northern province

The Afghan special forces killed four Taliban militants and detained 12 others after conducting an operation in restive northern province of Kunduz Wednesday night, an army source said on Thursday.

"The night raid operation was launched based on a confirmed tip-off on a Taliban hideout in Chahar Dara District. Upon arrival of the force, the militants engaged the troops and the security force returned fire, killing four militants," Abdul Khalil, a press officer of army's Division 20 Pamir based in the region, told Xinhua.

One Taliban bunker was destroyed and 12 arrested were transferred to an army base, Khalil said, adding "the troops also confiscated four suicide vests, 23 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), explosive materials, a communication radio and several rounds of weapons."

No civilian or security force member was hurt during the operation which lasted roughly for three hours, he said.

The targeted militants were responsible for subversive activities in the province, he added.

However, the Taliban militant group has rejected the assertion. Zabiullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesman, told local media that the detainees were local villagers and no Taliban fighter was captured in the district overnight.

The Kunduz province, bordering Tajikistan and neighboring Baghlan and Takhar provinces, has been the scene of heavy clashes over the past couple of months as Taliban has been trying to challenge the government forces in the once relatively peaceful region. Endit