Two militants killed in northern Afghan premature blast

KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Two militants were killed in a premature blast in Afghanistan's northern province of Kunduz overnight, an army official said Wednesday.

"Taliban militants were carrying an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Qarghaz locality of Imam Shaib District last night. Before arriving at a location as they were trying to plant the IED, the device accidently detonated, leaving two militants dead on the spot, and injuring two others," Abdul Khalil, a press officer of army's Division 20 Pamir based in the northern region, told Xinhua.

The district bordering Tajikistan has been the scene of heavy clashes between the Taliban and security forces after the Afghan troops waged an offensive there recently.

Taliban militants and Islamic State (IS) fighters have been using the home-made IEDs to target security forces but the lethal weapons also inflict casualties on civilians.

Earlier, the Afghan defense ministry tweeted that the army's personnel had found and defused 33 IEDs and landmines elsewhere in the country since early Tuesday.

In addition, in neighboring Balkh province, the Afghan army soldiers arrested seven suspected militants in Mohmand village of Chimtal district. The arrestees were shifted to an army camp for questioning, according to Khalil.

Fighting has escalated in Afghanistan as the Taliban insurgency spreads from its traditional strongholds in the south and east to the once peaceful region in the north, where the Taliban has been recruiting from the youth. Enditem