16 insurgent suspects arrested in Afghanistan: gov't

KABUL, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Sixteen suspects have been arrested across Afghanistan during the latest raids against insurgency this weekend, the country's primary intelligence agency said here Sunday.

The personnel of intelligence agency in coordination with Afghan national police and army have arrested 16 suspects since early Saturday in different places, National Directorate of Security (NDS) said in a statement.

The statement did not provide further information about the arrested, adding that the captured were handed over to concerned departments for further questioning.

The NDS personnel also launched 22 special operations and took part in 24 joint operations together with army and police within the period, according to the statement.

During the joint operations, one Taliban command and control post, one heroin factory, two Taliban bunkers, 16 rounds of weapons, 22 vehicles and 34 motorcycles were destroyed by the joint security forces, the statement said.

One person was also freed from the kidnappers' clutch, the statement added.

Afghan security forces and the NATO-led coalition troops have beefed up security operations and airstrikes as the war-weary people are facing upsurges in attacks by Taliban insurgents and Islamic State (IS) militants across the country. Enditem