Kabul, May 24 (IANS) The Afghan security forces killed 53 militants during separate military operations since early Monday, the Afghan defence ministry said on Tuesday.
"A total of 81 armed militants were wounded and three suspected militants detained during the operations conducted by Afghan army, police and intelligence agency personnel in 18 of the Afghanistan's 34 provinces since Monday," Xinhua news agency quoted the ministry statement as saying.
The joint forces also seized weapons and defused several roadside bombs and landmines, according to the statement.
The statement also confirmed loss of nine army personnel in the clashes and separate attacks over the same period.