16 insurgents killed in eastern Afghan provinces

JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Sixteen insurgents of Taliban and Islamic State (IS) group were killed in two eastern Afghan provinces, authorities said Saturday.

Two Tajikistani militants of IS terrorist group were killed after a NATO-led coalition forces' drone struck Langari Kando locality of Haska Mina district of Nangarhar province at around midday Saturday, a provincial government spokesman, Attahullah Khogyani, told Xinhua.

In addition, four Taliban militants were killed and eight militants, including a local Taliban senior commander, were arrested after Afghan Special Forces raided a compound in neighboring Khogyani district overnight, he said.

The arrested militants were shifted to an army camp for questioning.

In neighboring Kunar province, Afghan army killed 10 Taliban militants and detained three others after soldiers fought back a Taliban attack in Ghazi Abad district Friday night, an army source, Mirwais Safi told Xinhua.

Afghan security forces and the coalition troops have beefed up security operations and airstrikes against militants as the war-weary people are facing upsurges in attacks by Taliban and IS militants across the country.

The militant groups have yet to make comments on the report. Enditem